TAMAQUA — Rush Township supervisors on Thursday approved renting equipment to pave and patch roads.

Tropp Contracting Inc., Pottsville, was the only bidder at $46,590, which includes equipment.

Roads targeted for work include Ridge Street, Wayne Avenue, South Street, John Street, Jones Street, Tide Road, Center Street, Cumberland Avenue and Joyce Street. Some will be paved and others will be patched, according to township engineer Bill McMullen of ARRO Consulting Inc.

Grants

Supervisors approved a resolution to apply for Community Development Block Grant funding for $80,000 for a sanitary sewer line replacement project at Hometown Avenue and part of Miller Street.

Supervisor Robert Leibensperger is also working on two grants for the police department — one to purchase body cameras, the other for safety equipment.

Leibensperger said he started the process and didn’t have a figure for either grant. The Burns Grant is funded through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the grant for the body cameras, also federal, should be enough to pay for them.

The supervisors gave their approval to start the application process for the grants.

One dollar playground

Solicitor Chris Riedlinger told the board there is an agreement for sale that was signed Thursday based on a previous vote for the purchase of the playground in Grier City for $1.

Deeds

Ashland — John J. and Candy L. Kornotto to Allen J. Bagdonavicius; 50 percent interest in 1024 Walnut St.; $10,000.

Anne M. Brassington to Allen J. Bagdonavicius; 50 percent interest in 1024 Walnut St.; $10,000.

Branch Township — Sharon M. Wentz, individually and as executrix of the Last Will & Testament of Margaret Manue, and Mary Ellen Chaposky to Christine M. Rose; property on Minersville-Llewellyn Highway; $60,000.

Butler Township — Stephen J. Rodick to Theresa M. and William Howard Krieger; 601 W. Spring St.; $85,000.

Crystal Ann and David Carduff to Crystal Ann and David Carduff; 131 Turnpike Road; $1.

Coaldale — Margo Larizzio, executrix of the Estate of Agnes Helen Negri, to Neil Skripnek; 1 W. Ruddle St.; $47,000.

Pamela A. Wallace and Don Ara Barlieb to Demetrius Simpkins; 111 E. Early Ave.; $26,000.

Cressona — Richard J. Jr. and Cathy A. Konkus to Justin and Brittany Putlock and Woodrow W. Jr. and Deborah A. Wiest; 29 Chestnut St.; $83,500.

East Union and West Mahanoy townships and Shenandoah — Theresa Santai Gaffney, register of wills and clerk of the Orphans’ Court of Schuylkill County, to Charles V. Savage; five properties; $1.

Frackville — Joseph F. and Ruth Onisick to Russell R. Cunningham III; 114 S. Second St.; $34,000.

Blackstone Funding LLC and Watermelon Realty LLC to Paublo Antonio Burgos; property on Balliet Street; $9,500.

Hegins Township — David P. Schweinhart and Karen Y. Schweinhart, trustees of The David P. Schweinhart and Karen Y. Schweinhart Revocable Living Trust, to Heather R. Deppen; 211 W. Main St., Valley View; $79,500.

Jess C. III and Clarissa E. Pena to Bethany N. Ludwig and Ryan A. Cook; 677 Valley Road, Hegins; $193,000.

Mark A. and Brenda E. Smeltz to Chad M. Rodichok and Kylene S. Deeter; 214 Willow St., Valley View; $63,000.

George D. Kline Jr. to George D. Kline Jr. and Barbara I. Kline, trustees of The Kline Family Trust; 305 Walnut St.; $1.

Mahanoy City — Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. to Mark and Kathleen Luff; 627 E. South St.; $1,900.

Minersville — Donald C. and Joan M. Snyder and Lisa Ann Sweigert to Thomas M. and Jane C. Collins; 454 Laurel St.; $21,000.

Gregory M. Volkay, individually and as attorney in fact for Yolanda Volkay, to Gary L. and Stacey A. Bainbridge; 108 Lorraine St.; $170,000.

New Philadelphia — Federal National Mortgage Association to Beverly Joan Hunger; 134 Water St.; $14,000.

North Manheim Township — Michael T. Faust to Nikki Ann Dohner; 15 Vernon Ave., Haven Fair Lawn; $122,200.

Schuylkill Products Inc. to Northeast Prestressed Products LLC; 135 Gordon Nagle Trail; $1.

David E. and Linda F. Williams to Joshua R. and Tonya M. McJunkin; 92 W. Second Mountain Road; $167,000.

Joseph G. Groody, sheriff of Schuylkill County, to Nationstar Mortgage LLC; 12 Greentree Drive; $1,293.97.

Pine Grove — Heather J. and Scott E. Zimmerman to Kyle M. and Brooke D. Wolfe; 32 High St.; $137,500.

Pine Grove Township — Ryan MacNamara and Jodi Fetterolf to Kerry D. Jr. and Amanda Wright; 94 Pleasant Valley Road; $112,000.

Pine Grove Landfill Inc. to LRZ Ltd.; 214 Schultz Road; $30,000.

Port Carbon — Sandra M. Lurwick to William F. and Annette B. Devers; 121 Spruce St.; $1.

Susquehanna Bank to Stephen Gola and Joan M. Huey; property on Washington Street; $50,000.

Porter Township — Timothy G. Rebuck and Loralie E. Rebuck to Robert L. Arsenault; 323 W. Wiconisco St., Muir; $110,000.

Pottsville — Zachary D. Yeastadt to Cheryl A. Webster; 779 N. Centre St.; $72,000.

Thomas E. and Linda L. Shollenberger to Matthew J. Olenick; 606 Carbon St.; $82,500.

Sarah M. Marconis to Michael Thomas Menne and Sadirah Croley; 4111 Front St.; $87,500.

Jennifer Johns-Riegle to Jason A. Strunk; 509A Carbon St.; $49,900.

T.J. Sands Real Estate LLC to Pennsylvania CVS Pharmacy LLC; property at Route 61 and East Norwegian Street; $1.25 million.

Linda Narvaez, The Gratz Bank, trustee of the Louise I. Biehl Trust; and Argent Trust Co. NA, successor trustee of the Trust for Linda Biehl, to Pennsylvania CVS Pharmacy LLC; three properties; $506,000.

Telly C. Hoimes and Margaret C. Hirschfeld, individually and as co-trustees under the Deed of Trust of Costas S. Hoimes; Dorothea D. Hoimes, individually, as executrix of the Estate of Michael S. Hoimes Sr., and as co-trustee under the Deed of Trust of Michael S. Hoimes Sr.; and Van J. Filipos and John V. Filipos, co-trustees under the Deed of Trust of Michael S. Hoimes Sr., to Pennsylvania CVS Pharmacy LLC; 0.462-acre property on Route 61; $375,000.

Sandra L. Davenport to Robert T. and Carol J. Motto; 101 Timber Road, Forest Hills; $165,000.

Robert T. and Carol J. Motto to David C. and Angela Bowers; 341 Spring Garden St.; $104,000.

Stacy L. Ebling to Robert R. Adams; 567 E. Market St.; $53,855.

Reilly Township — John R. and Joanne W. Koshulsky to D. Joseph and Cheryl Bingaman; property at South State and Sport Hill roads, Branchdale; $13,500.

Saint Clair — Barry L. Jenkins, administrator of the Estate of Margaret L. Jenkins, to Ronald T. Russell; 307 N. Mill St.; $7,000.

Schuylkill Haven — Jerry D. and Farideh Bowman to Steven R. Schaeffer and Krista Marie Columbo; 118 E. Union St.; $35,000.

Greg W. and Elizabeth A. Guldin to Randalyn L. Dillabaugh; 430 Hess St.; $54,500.

Bank of America NA to Michele Staskel; 503 Orchard Ave.; $50,000.

Anna M. Yoder to Jonathan D. and Jordyn E. Kriner; 414 Orchard Ave.; $105,000.

James P. Hartz, Mary Hartz Muncy and Joseph L. Hartz to Alyssa A. Miller and Evan M. Fink; 710 E. Main St.; $95,000.

Harold P. and Shirley A. Stokes to Randy and Laurie Carl; 132 W. Main St.; $20,000.

HEGINS — With the 2014-15 school year in the books, Tri-Valley School District is already preparing for the next year to begin.

The board hired the following staff at the Wednesday meeting:

• Temporary summer cleaners at a rate of $11.75 per hour for the season, Crystal Geist and Karen Harman.

• Students to a temporary summer work crew at a rate of $8 per hour for this summer: Jared Bush, Tiffany Coleman, Kori Deibert, Alan Harring, Benjamin Hinkel, Kelly Romberger, Mark Schlegel, Joshua Smallwood, Hunter Snyder and William Ward.

• Teachers and salaries, including applicable benefits, approved starting Aug. 25, the first teacher day in the 2015-16 school year: Allison Mowery, elementary learning support, $38,200; Sara Nestor, secondary health and physical education, $38,200; Kaitlyn Stutzman, family and consumer science, $38,200; Ryan Wagner, social studies, $39,200, and Jason Eby, secondary health and physical education, $40,600.

• Sarah Miller as a long-term art substitute, effective Aug. 25.

The board also granted permission to the administration to advertise and fill vacancies prior to the start of the 2015-16 school year.

Three of the district’s bus routes in the Klingerstown area will be affected by a state Department of Transportation bridge project for at least the first month of school.

The board voted Wednesday on a request from Laura Fox, on behalf of community members, to grant permission to extend the bridge construction project on Bridge JV 208 on Ridge Road in Klingerstown into the first few weeks of the 2015-16 school year because of two community events during the month of July.

Mark Snyder, superintendent of Tri-Valley, said PennDOT was planning to have the project completed before the start of the school year, but because the community has requested they put the project off a few weeks it will affect the bus routes.

Since the retirement of the district’s technology director, Barry Palmer, at the end of the 2014-15 school year, the board approved contracting with Schuylkill Intermediate Unit 29 to provide services previously handled by Palmer.

The services will include help support, troubleshooting and configuring. The following can be configured as needed: firewall devices, filter devices, videoconferencing units, telephone system, voice mail system, email system, security system, Wi-Fi infrastructure, mobile devices, servers and other infrastructure equipment and devices, end user desktop/laptop computers, student information system, printers and multifunction printers/copiers throughout the school district, interactive whiteboards, projectors, other electronic communication systems and software applications. Other services included making recommendations, as necessary, for upgrades to the districtwide computer system infrastructure; keeping abreast of new technologies as they are released; working with the school district’s technology contact to prepare and submit e-Rate documents as needed; and providing technical support via telephone, online and in-person as needed. An IU 29 delegate will attend technology meetings and other events as necessary to assist and/or represent the school district and provide training to teachers and other school personnel as necessary with regard to software programs utilized by the district.

The board voted in favor of the proposal with the IU 29 and the rate will be $70,835.

In other business, Gerald Anderson, elementary principal, thanked all the parents and family volunteers that helped to assist students in both elementary buildings this past school year.

Anderson said that adult community members are encouraged to consider volunteering at either elementary buildings. Interested persons should call the elementary offices at 570-682-9011 or 570-648-6062.

A special board meeting will be held at 7 p.m. June 24 at the high school to approve the final budget for the 2015-16 school year.

n Ashland: Good Shepherd Lutheran Church will hold its “Camp Discovery” vacation Bible school from 6 to 8 p.m. July 13-18 at the church, 35 N. Ninth St. To register or for more information, call the church office at 570-875-2581.

n Eckley: Patchtown Days weekend at Eckley Miners’ Village will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The event, according to an EMV release, is a “celebration of more than 160 years of anthracite mining history and cultural heritage of northeastern Pennsylvania patch towns.” There will be live music, presentations, dance performances, archaeology findings, a fashion show and strolling performances. Admission is $10 for people 13 through 64, $9 for seniors 65 and older and $6 for children 6 to 12. For more information, call EMV at 570-636-2070 or go to the EMV website at www.eckleyminersvillage.com.

n Gordon: There will be a townwide yard sale in the community beginning at 8 a.m. Saturday. A food stand will be available throughout the event sponsored by the Gordon Fish and Game group.

n Hegins: The 31st annual Bootleggers’ Independent Coal Miners Picnic will be held, rain or shine, at noon Aug. 8 at Hegins Park. Hot meals will be served at 4 p.m. and cold cuts, soups and similar fare will be available. Entertainment will be by a disc jockey, Gold Dust, Old Gold, The Breaker Boys and Red Halo. Names on the annual mugs are as follows: In memory of Norman J. Dinger, 1969; Art Hull Shumber, 1981; Donald J. Ducer Herring, 1998; George Pinchorski, 2014; Charles C. Charlie Klinger, 2014; Albert R. Dook Carl Sr., 2014; Homer J. Schnick Morgan, 2014; Paul Deeter, 2014; Stanley Morgan, 2014; Robert Bobby Brown, 2014; Steve Shingara Jr., 2014; Matt Shingara, 2014, and Leslie R. Pepper Kimmel, 2015. The photo on the mug will be in honor of Norman “Normie” Klinger. Anyone wishing to order mugs should order by July 6. For more information or donation tickets, call David A. Lucas at 570-682-9140.

n Mahanoy City: The St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry is always in need of food and is grateful for donations. Items needed include cereal, canned fruit, peanut butter, beef stew, soups, juices, tuna, Spam, instant potatoes, Hamburger Helper, pasta and sauce, pancake mix and syrup, coffee, tea or any nonperishable food item or canned good. Bathroom tissue is also needed. Donations may be left at Blessed Teresa of Calcutta Roman Catholic Church, at the office of state Rep. Neal P. Goodman, D-123, or at M&T Bank, all in Mahanoy City.

n Ringtown: The Ringtown community vacation Bible school will host “Get Ready for a Blast at VBS!” from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. today to Friday at St. John Lutheran Church, 106 W. Main St. All community children age 4 to seventh grade are welcome. Adult classes will also be offered. The registration deadline has passed. For more information, call the Rev. Craig Zimmerman at 570-889-3074 or St. John’s church office at 570-889-5203.

n Schuylkill Haven: In a follow-up to the successful 2014 Penn State Schuylkill Women’s Wellness Conference, the campus is featuring mini seminars highlighting pertinent women’s issues, according to the campus’ Community Cultural Events Calendar and a flier on the 2015 Women’s Wellness Series. The forums will include a presentation by a prominent speaker followed by question/answer sessions. The schedule is as follows, with all beginning at 7 p.m. in Classroom 101 in the Classroom Building: Aug. 5, “During the golden years ... what really are the needs;” Oct. 7, “Looking your best — makeup application and hair care;” Nov. 4, “Dental wellness ... love your smile;” Dec. 2, “Guilt! It’s killing me.” The events are free, but reservations are required. RSVP to Rosalie Wiest at 570-385-6102 or via email to RAW44@psu.edu.

n Shenandoah: The Bernardine Franciscan Sisters say the Divine Mercy Chaplet and rosary at 3 p.m. Fridays in Divine Mercy Roman Catholic Church, Cherry and Chestnut streets.

A Schuylkill Haven man is not a sexually violent predator, but still will be subject to lifetime Megan’s Law sanctions, a Schuylkill County judge ruled Monday.

Michael A. Galluppi, 31, did not meet the standards for being such a predator, Judge John E. Domalakes ruled, thereby following the recommendation of the state Sexual Offenders Assessment Board.

However, the seriousness of Galluppi’s crimes merit his being forced to comply with lifetime sanctions under Megan’s Law, Domalakes said.

“You shall register all required information for the rest of your natural life,” Domalakes told Galluppi.

That information, which is kept by the Pennsylvania State Police, includes his name, address, employment, any schools he might attend, registration of any vehicles he owns and submission of a DNA sample.

Any violation of the sanctions would be an additional crime and subject Galluppi to further prosecution.

The registration will begin when Galluppi leaves state prison, where he is being confined for his crimes.

Galluppi pleaded guilty on Feb. 18 to one count each of statutory sexual assault, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and aggravated indecent assault. Prosecutors withdrew three additional counts each of statutory sexual assault, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and aggravated indecent assault, and one count of corruption of minors.

At that time, pursuant to an agreement between prosecutors and the defendant, Domalakes sentenced Galluppi to serve 7 1/2 to 20 years in a state correctional institution, pay costs and $50 to the Criminal Justice Enhancement Account and submit a DNA sample to law enforcement authorities.

Schuylkill Haven borough police charged Galluppi with sexually assaulting a child on Sept. 20, 2014, in the borough. Deputy Assistant District Attorney John T. Fegley said the victim was a 13-year-old girl.

Galluppi already is an inmate at SCI/Mahanoy, and Domalakes conducted Monday’s hearing by videoconference.

Megan’s Law was enacted in Pennsylvania, numerous other states and at the federal level after the July 29, 1994, murder of Megan Nicole Kanka, 7, in Hamilton Township, New Jersey. Jesse Timmendequas, Kanka’s killer, was one of her neighbors and a twice-convicted sex offender; his death sentence was commuted to life imprisonment after New Jersey enacted legislation to abolish the death penalty in that state.

Defendant: Michael A. Galluppi

Age: 31

Residence: Schuylkill Haven

Crimes committed: Statutory sexual assault, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and aggravated indecent assault

Prison sentence: 7½ to 20 years in a state correctional institution, plus lifetime Megan’s Law sanctions

Marriage licenses

Walter H. Kline, Orwigsburg, and Susan M. Henry, Orwigsburg.

Andrew J. Maurer, Valley View, and Amanda M. Seiger, Valley View.

Ronald E. Taylor, New Ringgold, and Courtney A. Jones, Orwigsburg.

Divorces granted

Melanie Anthony, Pine Grove, from Ricardo Anthony, Tacoma, Washington.

David O’Day, Pottsville, from Joanna Lynn O’Day, Port Carbon.

Robert J. Mestishen, Saint Clair, from Natalie Slane, Minersville.

Angela Barry, Pine Grove, from Christopher Barry, Pine Grove.

A Tamaqua woman admitted Monday in Schuylkill County Court that she sold methamphetamine twice in May 2014 in her hometown.

Noelle H. Parisi, 19, pleaded guilty to two counts of delivery of a controlled substance, with prosecutors withdrawing two counts each of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, criminal use of a communication facility and possession of a controlled substance.

“She wants to take accountability for what happened,” Brian C. Eves, New Hope, Parisi’s lawyer, said of his client. “She’s committed to recovery.”

President Judge William E. Baldwin accepted Parisi’s plea, but did not immediately sentence her, instead ordering preparation of a presentence investigation. He said he had reservations about the proposed sentence of eight to 23 months in prison.

Tamaqua police charged Parisi with selling methamphetamine in the borough on May 14, 2014, and again on May 21, 2014.

Also on Monday, Judge Charles M. Miller sentenced Charles A. Marcinko, 48, of Sugarloaf, Luzerne County, to spend five years in the intermediate punishment program for driving under the influence.

Under the terms of Miller’s sentence, which the judge made effective at 10 a.m. Friday, Marcinko will spend 30 days in prison, 90 days on house arrest with electronic monitoring, 30 days on alcohol monitoring, seven months on strict supervision and four years on probation.

“You have a lot of hard work to do to rid yourself of this problem,” Miller told Marcinko.

Marcinko also must pay costs, $1,550 in fines, $300 to the Substance Abuse Education Fund, $460 restitution to Schuylkill Medical Center-South Jackson Street and $113 restitution to the state police crime laboratory in Bethlehem under the terms of Miller’s sentence.

Marcinko pleaded guilty on March 31 to DUI, possession of drug paraphernalia, disregarding traffic lane and careless driving.

State police at Schuylkill Haven alleged he was DUI at 9:15 p.m. April 26, 2014, at routes 61 and 183 in North Manheim Township. Police said Marcinko was under the influence of synthetic marijuana at the time.

“I never plan on ever touching it again,” Marcinko said of synthetic marijuana.

He said he is trying to keep his invalid mother alive, since his father also has health problems.

However, Miller said Marcinko, who said he had DUIs in 1995 in Luzerne County and in 2007 in Carbon County, must pay for his newest crime in spite of his problems.

“We cannot let someone use that as an excuse,” the judge said. “That’s why we have the driving laws we do.”

In another Monday case, Jaxson R. Detweiler, 21, of Schuylkill Haven, returned to prison after Judge John E. Domalakes revoked his parole.

Domalakes ordered Detweiler, who admitted violating his parole by failing to report to his supervising officer and failing drug tests, imprisoned until at least Sept. 22 before having a chance for reparole. Detweiler could remain in prison until Sept. 1, 2016, under the terms of his new sentence.

Detweiler originally pleaded guilty on Sept. 25, 2013, to delivery of a controlled substance, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, criminal use of a communication facility and possession of a controlled substance in one case and possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance in another, with prosecutors withdrawing a charge of possession of a controlled substance in the second case.

At that time, Domalakes sentenced Detweiler to serve six to 23 months in prison, pay costs, a $100 SAEF payment and $113 restitution to the state police crime laboratory in Bethlehem and submit a DNA sample to law enforcement authorities.

Schuylkill County detectives charged Detweiler with selling drugs on June 19, 2012, while Minersville police charged him with possessing drugs with intent to sell them on Feb. 22, 2013, in the borough.

Also on Monday, Baldwin revoked the parole of Scott Kendricks, 32, of Shenandoah, and recommitted him to prison without a chance for reparole until July 29.

Kendricks, formerly of Mahanoy City, admitted violating his parole by committing a new crime.

He originally pleaded guilty on March 19, 2014, to reckless burning, with prosecutors withdrawing a second count of reckless burning, two counts of arson and one of risking a catastrophe.

At that time, Baldwin sentenced Kendricks to serve two to 23 months in prison, pay costs and a $50 CJEA payment and submit a DNA sample to law enforcement authorities.

West Mahanoy Township police charged Kendricks with setting fire to 13 St. Paul St., Lower William Penn, about 4 a.m. April 1, 2013.

Police said Kendricks admitted to them that he started the fire on a green carpet and left before it was completely out. The fire quickly spread and destroyed not only that home but the adjacent one at 11 St. Paul St., according to police.

A candy business which opened a stand at Renninger’s Farmers Market in Schuylkill Haven last year is working to open a second location in a storefront in downtown Pottsville.

Something Sweet Candies will open at 300 N. Centre St., Pottsville, sometime in July, according to the owners of the business, Chris Hohman and his wife, Marlene, both of Pottsville. On Monday, they were still working to set up the interior and did not have a firm date for the grand opening.

They said they were inspired to open a store downtown to give the business district something new, yet something with a sense of nostalgia.

“A lot of us grew up with a candy store in our neighborhood. It’s a thing of the past now. And I think the downtowns are coming back. The malls have seen their heyday. The big thing now are strip malls. And what is a strip mall other than a block of stores that used to be in the downtowns that have parking in front of them? So I think downtowns are going to make a comeback and Pottsville needs a candy store,” Chris said Monday.

The public can get an introduction to the business Saturday at the Independence Day Fireworks and Celebration at the Station. Something Sweet Candies will be one of the vendors at Union Station.

“We have a pink and white tent,” Marlene said.

The building at 300 N. Centre St. is owned by Schoeneman Realty Co., Pottsville, which acquired the property in 1982, according to the online Schuylkill Parcel Locator. The storefront was previously occupied by R.J. Miske Florist. Last week, Schoeneman Realty hired Ron Noel Contracting to improve a section of the building’s facade near the foundation.

On Monday, the Hohmans talked about their plans to improve the property.

“This is the first time I’m dealing with leasing a property downtown, but I have to say Schoeneman has gone above and beyond to help us in my opinion,” Chris said.

He and his wife are planning to add some new coats of paint.

Born in Pottsville, Chris Hohman, 52, is a 1981 graduate of Nativity BVM High School, Pottsville. His secondary education included a degree from Lincoln Technical Institute. For more than 20 years he worked as a truck driver.

Today, the candy business is his full-time job.

Eager to get involved with the community, Chris Hohman is also a member of the city’s Pottsville Positive Committee.

Born in Pottsville, Marlene, 44, graduated from Pottsville Area High School in 1988. She’s an LPN who works at Schuylkill Center, a Genesis HealthCare facility in Pottsville.

The couple married in 1998.

They opened their candy stand at Renninger’s Farmers Market in November 2014.

“We’re there two days a week, just on the weekend,” Chris said.

Other candy stores which had locations downtown include Mootz Candies, which closed its 220-222 S. Centre St. factory and store in July 2010 after being in business for 91 years. The Sweet Barista, which opened in 2011 at 17-19 Centre St., Pottsville, moved to the Simon Kramer Institute in New Philadelphia in 2013.

When Something Sweet Candies opens at 300 N. Centre St., it will have “more than 100 varieties” of candy and gifts, Chris said.

“And we’ll do custom orders, like candy bouquets,” Marlene said.

The couple is still developing the store’s hours of operation.

The business has a website in development, www.sscandies.com.

PARK PLACE — Even with cellphones, email and other forms of modern communication, the hobby of amateur radio continues to be popular thanks to groups like the Schuylkill Amateur Repeater Association.

The association is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, having been organized by 25 men on March 5, 1975. Of the 25 charter members, 23 were licensed amateur radio operators.

While amateur radio has been a longstanding fun hobby, it is also important for emergency communications. One of SARA’s objectives is to contribute its assistance to the county and local communities in any way possible, and to have available a backup radio communications system, with trained operators, to assist in passing important messages during any emergency.

Each year, SARA holds its annual field day and, in recognition of the anniversary, it will move the site of the field day to its original location in Mahanoy Township near the village of Park Place.

On-air demonstrations are on tap as SARA gears up to participate in the 83rd Amateur Radio Field Day on Saturday and Sunday at the top of Tower Road.

“This weekend is our annual field day, and the theme this year is ‘Back to the Future,’ ” Jim Munley, SARA secretary and radio operator, said. “We’re going to the original tower site where it started 40 years ago when SARA started.”

The field day is a 24-hour event, rain or shine, beginning at 2 p.m. Saturday and ending the same time Sunday. The event is open to the public.

During Field Day, amateur radio operators will hold demonstrations, give talks to community groups and take part in other activities to raise awareness about amateur radio. Field Day is sponsored by the American Radio Relay League, the national association for amateur radio. During this annual event, thousands of fellow amateur radio operators and clubs will set up radio stations in parks, community centers and other remote locations for the purpose of gaining proficiency in operating under austere conditions should an emergency occur.

“We’re going have three stations going,” Munley said. “We’re having the GOTA station, which stands for ‘Get On The Air.’ We’ll have the Morse code station and the phone station, which is voice. That’s what they called it back then. We will have digital demonstrations and a few more surprises there.”

Munley added, “What we want people to know is that the original 90-foot tower that SARA put its first signal out on is back in service and it will be in use for hanging antennas on. And the government surplus utility trailers that were first used for equipment and transmitting stations were refurbished last month, and they will also be in use. Most of everything that SARA started out with that is still around will be used.”

Munley said the surplus utility trailers were military vehicles and a SARA member became aware of them and obtained them for use.

“There will be two transmitting stations in them,” Munley said.

One of the original members, Carl H. Zimmerman, Tamaqua, will be on hand to kick off the field day at his Morse code station.

“Radio operators will be making contacts with stations throughout the United States and North America,” Munley said.

GOTA allows anyone from the public to participate by talking on a ham radio.

A tradition at each field day is to remember the members who have died in the past year. The association will remember Allen Breiner Jr., Tamaqua, Andrew Hardee, Zion Grove, and Lewis H. Hoffman, Shenandoah Heights.

“They were all outstanding members of SARA and contributed a lot to the organization. They were held in very high regard in amateur radio circles,” Munley said.

Munley said the 24-hour event is also a competition among ham radio clubs around the country, with each trying to contact as many different stations as possible. Invitations to attend have been sent to the county commissioners and county Emergency Management Agency coordinator John Matz, among others.

“We have people showing up at all hours,” Munley said.

Park Place is located about three miles northeast of Mahanoy City along state Route 1014 (Park Place Road). At the east end of the village, turn left at the next to last street, which is Tower Road, and drive up the mountain. Munley said there will be signs placed by SARA to follow.

Meetings are held monthly at 8 p.m. on the second Friday at Schuylkill Medical Center-South Jackson Street. Go into the main entrance and go straight back to conference room.

The meetings are open to all who are interested in amateur radio. The next meeting is July 10.

HOMETOWN — Alcohol played a factor in a deadly all-terrain vehicle accident in Rush Township that claimed the life of a Grier City man on Monday, Rush Township police said.

Daniel G. Pupko, 54, died when the 1984 Yamaha ATV he was operating rolled while traveling south on Marian Avenue, state Route 1019, at 4:32 p.m. Monday in Rush Township, according to township police.

His brother, Stephen T. Pupko, 56, who was riding as a passenger, was not injured, Rush Township police said.

Police said the pair had just left an American Legion post in Quakake and that alcohol played a role in the accident.

According to police, witnesses said that Daniel was operating the ATV when he apparently lost control and rolled it. The vehicle came to rest in the northbound lane of Marian Avenue.

Daniel was pronounced dead at the scene by Schuylkill County Coroner Debra Detweiler, police said.

The Pupkos live on Grier Avenue in Grier City, police said.

Kline Township police and fire police from Hometown responded.

Officials closed part of Marian Avenue near Air Products while responding to the crash but allowed some vehicles to enter the business.

At a special meeting Monday, the Pottsville Area school board voted to extend its existing contract with the maintenance firm for the district’s heating, ventilation and air conditioning.

The district will pay Honeywell Inc. $226,000 for the 2015-16 school year, according to Kerry L. Ansbach, director of facilities and transportation, who was at the meeting held at 7 a.m. at the Howard S. Fernsler Academic Center.

The reason the district decided to keep Honeywell Inc. on for another year is it wasn’t satisfied with a series of proposals it received for a future HVAC service contract.

The current contract with Honeywell involves maintaining the HVAC system and repairing parts if necessary.

“It’s a preferred maintenance package, which means that anything that goes bad, Honeywell has to replace at their cost,” Ansbach said.

Earlier this year, the district sent out a request for proposals for a different kind of contract.

“It was strictly a preventative maintenance package, which means if a part had to be replaced, the district would have had to pay for the part,” Ansbach said.

The district received three proposals, one from NRG Heating & Air Conditioning for $258,000, one from H.B. McClure Co. for $222,000 and one from Honeywell Inc. for about $194,000, Ansbach said, recalling the numbers off the top of his head.

“I’d like to make a motion that we reject all RFPs for HVAC maintenance and monitoring services,” Scott D. Krater, board vice president, said.

The motion was seconded by board member Christina M. DiCello and it was carried in a voice vote.

Also present were board President John F. Boran and board members Karen E. Rismiller and Charles R. Wagner.

“The reason for us rejecting the bids is because they came in higher than we expected,” Ansbach said.

Then, the board voted to extend Honeywell’s existing contract for one year, starting July 1, with a motion by Krater, which was seconded by DiCello and approved in a voice vote.

Board member Cindy Petchulis arrived for the meeting just as the votes were completed.

Absent from Monday’s special meeting were board members Gary A. Cortese, Linda Grube and Patrick F. Moran.

District Business Manager Stephen C. Curran referred all questions about Honeywell’s existing contract and the proposals that had been requested to Ansbach.

“Kerry knows those figures better than I do,” Curran said.

The district paid Honeywell $226,000 for its services in the 2014-15 school year and that’s what the district will pay Honeywell in 2015-16, Ansbach said.

On Monday, Robert D. Schappell went from a free man to a prison cell for allegedly violating both his bail conditions and a plea agreement with prosecutors.

However, Schappell’s trip to prison meant he missed a possible bomb threat.

“I do realize I’ve made a lot of mistakes,” Schappell, 43, of Pottsville, said in explaining why he had not come up with the money he had promised to pay his alleged victims.

Judge Jacqueline L. Russell ruled Schappell had violated his bail conditions by contacting one of his alleged victims, contact the defendant admitted had occurred.

“I am concerned about defendant’s meeting with a victim,” Russell said.

Assistant District Attorney Debra A. Smith then withdrew the plea offer prosecutors had made to Schappell, which called for him to serve nine to 18 months behind bars and make full restitution. Schappell had provided no documentation that any restitution had been paid or of any agreements he had for any work he would do to earn more money.

Schappell then withdrew his guilty plea; Russell ordered him imprisoned for violating his bail conditions and directed that his case be returned to the trial list. The next time he could go to trial is during the August criminal court term.

As sheriff’s deputies led Schappell to the county prison, other deputies and Pottsville police went to the Chevrolet Suburban sport utility vehicle he had driven to the courthouse. On the SUV was a note containing a single word: Boom. Also on the SUV was what Chief Deputy Sheriff Brian Tobin called an inert device, which turned out to be an old transistor radio.

“We didn’t mess with it,” Deputy Sheriff William Allar said.

Pottsville police Sgt. James Joos said there are no suspects at this time, but that the incident does not appear to have been directed at the entire community.

“We’re in the preliminary stages of the investigation,” he said. “There’s absolutely no threat at any time or any danger to the community. This ... was simply meant to alarm people.”

Police officers and sheriff’s deputies examined the vehicle, which Joos said was towed from the scene.

Schappell, formerly of Deer Lake, pleaded guilty March 18 to 21 counts of theft by deception, with prosecutors withdrawing 21 counts each of theft and receiving stolen property, and one count of a bad check.

Schuylkill Haven borough police charged Schappell, formerly of Deer Lake, with taking $202,500 from Bruce Stidham, owner of Bruce’s Auto Mall in the borough, in exchange for Corvettes and other vehicles. Schappell neither provided Stidham with any vehicles, nor did he refund any money to him, police said.

In the other case, state police at Schuylkill Haven alleged he passed a bad check on Nov. 1, 2013.

Schappell told Russell he has been working to try to come up with the money, $202,050 in the theft case and $24,000 in the bad check case, he owes. However, he brought no documentation of any bids or estimates for the work he said he will do to try to raise the money, factors that Russell thought proved more than any of Schappell’s words.

“He has not come up with this money,” Russell said. “We are going to be waiting forever. Frankly, I don’t believe him.”

Deeds

South Manheim Township — Pedro L. and Angelica Abreu to Kevin M. Vankempen; 2290 Tonto Drive, Lake Wynonah; $125,000.

Tremont Township — Ruth Steinert Memorial SPCA to Richard Romberger; 9.0556-acre property on Route 125; $27,000.

Washington Township — JMAC Realty LLC and Water Wheel Properties LLC to JMAC Realty LLC and Water Wheel Properties LLC; 1.0129-acre property on Sunrise Drive; $1.

JMAC Realty LLC and Water Wheel Properties LLC to JMAC Realty LLC and Water Wheel Properties LLC; 1.0118-acre property on Sunrise Drive; $1.

Wayne Township — Carole M. Tischler and Thomas B. Kirlin to Hermelt P. and Marietta L. Montalvo; 337 Pawnee Drive, Lake Wynonah; $90,000.

n Frackville: An American Red Cross blood drive is set for noon to 5 p.m. Saturday at the Schuylkill Mall. 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 Friedensburg: An American Red Cross blood drive is set for noon to 5 p.m. Thursday at Friedensburg Fire Company, 1357 Long Run Road. 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 Mahanoy City: Blessed Teresa of Calcutta Roman Catholic Church is accepting reservations for a bus trip to Hollywood Casino set for July 16. The bus will leave at 9 a.m. from the former Service Electric and depart from the casino at 4:30 p.m. for the return trip. The cost is $21 with a rebate of $30 slot play and a $5 food voucher. For more information or reservations, call Sylvia at 570-773-3628.

n Mahanoy City: An American Red Cross blood drive is set for 1 to 6 p.m. Monday at West End Fire Company, 700 Mahanoy Ave. 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 Nuremberg: The Nuremberg Community Players’ production of the “Wizard of Oz!”, the Muny Version, by L. Frank Baum, under the direction of Ann Bonacci and Suzanne Croll, opens Friday. Shows are 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday. This musical will be their very first performance in the new home of the Nuremberg Community Players, in their theater located at the former St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, 283 Hazle St. Tickets are $10 and can be reserved by calling 570-384-4407.

n Pottsville: The Pottsville Kiwanis Club recently presented Dr. David Harvey Scholastic Awards to Connor McNamara and Julie Forester of Assumption BVM School and Mikaela Tobash and Gary Chen of the D.H.H. Lengel Middle School, Pottsville Area School District. The awards were made during a club meeting at the Pottsville Zone, according to the Kiwanis bulletin.

n Pottsville: Ryan Bates and Lisa Robinson of the Walk In Art Center, Schuylkill Haven, recently provided the Pottsville Rotary Club with information about the center, of which Robinson is executive director. According to the Rotary Bulletin, they said the center was started in 1989 by Albert Evans, former chief executive officer of Evans Delivery, as an incubator for the arts community. He bought the former Walk In Shoe Factory at 200 Parkway and converted it into the existing facility, which includes 16 art studios and a huge third-floor space, The Gallery, that is used for various exhibitions and events, including wedding receptions and business meetings. The Walk In charges membership dues at discounted prices to area artists in exchange for studio space. The artists also commit to donating 20 hours per month to the studio in exchange for the space. Bates and Robinson also provided brief bios of all the artists currently showing at the Walk In, along with their specialties. The various types of art shown include photography, drawings, textiles, animation, metal tooling, painting, basket weaving, watercolors, illustration and stoneware. The center has open houses on the first Saturday of each month and invite everyone to check it out.

n Tamaqua: An American Red Cross blood drive is set for 1 to 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Tamaqua YMCA, 1201 E. Broad St. 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.

PALO ALTO — There was only one applicant for the vacant mayor’s seat, and the borough council voted Monday to give that person the job.

It’s a former council president, John Deatrich Jr., who served on the council from 2005 to 2013.

“I would like to be considered for the open mayor position. As you’re aware, I have eight years experience on borough council. I spent four years as chairman of the finance committee and four years as borough council president,” Deatrich said in a June 16 letter to the council.

Joan Stevenosky, the council president, read it aloud at a special meeting at the borough hall.

After reviewing the letter, the council members present voted to give Deatrich the post.

Also present were Vincent Riotto, vice president; and members Baldine Traini-Rossi, Edward B. Herring Jr. and Patricia Schaeffer.

Council Member Stephen Haley was absent.

Thomas W. Beveridge, the borough’s mayor since February 2010, submitted his resignation letter June 8 and forced the council to seek a replacement. The council advertised for applications, which were due by June 17.

Beveridge ran unopposed in the 2013 General Election and won a four-year term, according to the website for the Schuylkill County Election Bureau.

“So, is this appointment just until election time?” Traini-Rossi asked.

Eric M. Prock, the borough’s solicitor, said Deatrich’s name will be on the ballot in the November election and the voters will decide if he will finish the unexpired term of the previous mayor, or serve until early January, if another candidate is sworn in.

“So he’ll serve until Jan. 4, 2016. The electorate will pick the successor at the next General Election. The winner will then fill out or run with Mayor Beveridge’s term. So whoever wins in November will take office Jan. 5,” Prock said.

“I have a genuine vested interest in the continuance of the efficient operation of our borough. My experience will afford me the opportunity to make the transition seamless. I can hit the ground running and will have nothing but the best interest of the borough in mind. I have proven that I can manage to work with each committee. I have good communication skills and I will make myself available to the borough residents as I have done in the past with my former positions,” Deatrich said in the letter.

“When I came into the office of chairman of the finance committee, there was about $5,000 in savings. When I left that position there was a surplus of approximately $50,000. As finance chairman I found ways to increase revenue by fostering relationships with business and industry within borough limits. We paved roads, purchased new equipment and increased services by lowering expenses. Additionally, we continued to expand borough personnel without raising taxes under my tenure,” Deatrich said in the letter.

“As council president I worked hard to assemble a council that complemented each of their committees and reorganized council to maximize efficiency. Under my term as president, we worked hard to finalize the quality of life ordinance and aggressively pursued property owners and citizens who were behind in their payments or not taking care of their properties. We appointed a health officer, began annual inspections of rental properties and completely revamped the entire police department. We hired new, experienced officers and brought the police department into the 21st century. Our police department was actually in violation of the minimum state requirements. Under previous rule we had a police department that was running with little to no supervision. Our police department did not even have systems in place to verify our officers had proper CPR, first aid or weapons certifications. When we were done, what we accomplished with the council was something we could be extremely proud of. I offer anyone to find a nearby police department with our tax base and our size that has anything that looks like the model we created. It is for this reason I would like to be the next mayor of Palo Alto,” Deatrich said in his letter.

Deatrich was not present at the council’s special meeting Monday and could not be reached for comment Monday night.

Stevenosky said she will have to contact him to schedule a time to swear him in.

In other matters at the council’s special meeting Monday, the council hired Chris Frantz, Palo Alto, as a full-time borough worker with a salary of $13.40 an hour, and decided to offer Kyle Geiger, Palo Alto, a job as a part-time borough worker with a salary of $13 an hour.

Stevenosky said she wasn’t sure Geiger would accept the post. “But he’s interested,” she said.

Man charged

in hit-and-run

FRACKVILLE — A borough man faces charges after an investigation revealed that he was involved in a hit-and-run incident earlier this month, police said.

Borough police said in a release issued Monday that Craig C. Kowalick, 29, of 385 E. Pine St., was driving a blue Dodge minivan at 3:50 p.m. June 7 when he hit a vehicle owned by Dennis Prosick in the 100 block of North Broad Mountain Avenue and left the scene without notifying police or the vehicle owner.

Kowalick will be charged with accidents involving damage to unattended vehicles or property and failure to make proper notification to police, officers said, and charges will be filed in the office of Magisterial District Justice Christina Hale.

Incident results

in charges filed

FRACKVILLE — A borough woman faces disorderly conduct and harassment charges after two incidents June 16, police said.

Frackville police said in a release issued Monday that Katrina Marie Fowler, 23, of 240 N. Nice St., was heard yelling and using obscene language at 7:20 and 8 p.m.

Police said Fowler will be charge with two counts of disorderly conduct and one count of harassment. The charges will be filed through the office of Magisterial District Justice Christina Hale, police said.

Woman punches

garage window

GORDON — A Mount Carmel woman is accused of punching out a garage window in the borough Sunday evening, police said.

State police at Frackville said Kelly Ann Richter, 38, damaged the window during an argument at the residence of Scott C. Blewis, 48, at 202 E. Plane St., at 7:30 p.m.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call police at 570-874-5300.

Butler Township police were not on duty at the time of the incident, police said.

Drivers not hurt

in Rt. 61 accident

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN — Two men were not injured when their vehicles collided June 14 at Route 61 and Earl Street in North Manheim Township, police said.

State police at Schuylkill Haven said in a release issued Monday that Raymond E. Moyer, 78, of Pine Grove, was eastbound on Earl Street at 1:02 p.m. when he pulled out from a stop sign, made a wide turn onto Route 61 south and hit a southbound 1984 GMC truck driven by Matthew M. Pfeffer, 47, of Pottsville. Police said the left side of Moyer’s 2010 Mercury Mariner hit the right side of Pfeffer’s truck, and Pfeffer’s left rear tire struck the Jersey barrier.

Police said both drivers were wearing seat belts at the time of the accident, and that Moyer faces a stop sign violation as a result of the crash.

Shen man injured

in Rt. 924 crash

SHEPPTON — A Shenandoah man was flown to a regional trauma center after the car he was driving struck a tree head-on and went down an embankment Friday evening on Route 924, Main Boulevard, in East Union Township, police said.

State police at Frackville said Benito A. Guzman Jr., 36, was southbound on Route 924 at 10:34 p.m. when he failed to drive in a left-hand curve and lost control of the car. Police said the car went off the east berm, struck the tree and came to rest on its over the embankment.

Police said Guzman suffered a fractured right femur and was flown to Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, via MedEvac and was listed in stable condition.

Police said Guzman was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash and faces multiple traffic citations, including driving without a license.

Shenandoah EMS and Sheppton Fire Department assisted at the scene, police said.

Traff stop nets

DUI, other charges

SHENANDOAH — A Shenandoah man was charged with DUI and faces other traffic violations after he was stopped by police May 16 on Route 54 in West Mahanoy Township, police said.

State police at Frackville said June 17 that they stopped at 2003 Ford Expedition driven by Rigoberto Paniagua-Gutierrez, 34, for various traffic violations when it was determined that he was driving under the influence.

Police said Paniagua-Gutierrez was subsequently arrested and charges were filed through the office of Magisterial District Judge Anthony J. Kilker.

Police investigate

Lykens burglary

LYKENS — State police at Lykens are investigating an incident of burglary, criminal trespass and theft that occurred at 8:20 p.m. June 17 in the 600 block of Spruce Street in this Dauphin County borough.

Police said three known suspects, including a 19-year-old Enola man and two men from Williamstown, ages 41 and 36, entered the residence of Damien A. Rudy, 21, and removed objects.

Police did not provide any other details.

Careless driving

citation filed

BERNVILLE — An Auburn woman faces a citation of careless driving after an accident Sunday morning on Route 183 just south of Blood Spring Road in Upper Tulpehocken Township, Berks County, police said.

State police at Hamburg said a 1996 Subaru Outback driven by Patti L. Himmelberger, 60, and a 2013 Subaru Legacy 2.5 driven by Mark W. Fleagle, 34, of Auburn, were northbound on Route 183 at 11:12 a.m. Police said Fleagle slowed due to traffic and Himmelberger was distracted and did not see Fleagle’s vehicle slowing down. Police said Himmelberger’s car hit Fleagle’s from behind.

Police said neither driver was hurt in the incident.

Branch alarm

10th in year

LYKENS — A bank faces a charge of control of alarm devices and automatic services after a false alarm occurred at 8:46 a.m. Saturday in its branch office in this Dauphin County borough, police said.

State police at Lykens said Tyco Security notified their station of an ATM/premise invalid user alarm at Susquehanna Bank, 575 Main St. Police said police responded to the location and checked the area. It was determined that the alarm had been set off by an employee emptying the morning ATM deposits, police said.

Police said the alarm marked the 10th false alarm at the location within a consecutive 12-month period, resulting in the charge being filed in the office of Magisterial District Judge Rebecca Jo Margerum, Elizabethville.

Windshield hit

on moving truck

DARKWATER — Someone threw a rock from a wooded area and struck the windshield of a truck that was southbound on Route 61 on Saturday evening near Darkwater Road in New Castle Township, police said.

State police at Frackville said the bobtail truck, owned by Leonards Transportation Inc., Farmington, N.Y., was traveling at 6:31 p.m. when it was struck.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 570-874-5300.

New Castle Township police were not working at the time of the incident, police said.

Schuylkill County District Attorney Christine Holman is warning people — especially the elderly — to be aware of scams.

She said there have been at least 10 complaints about scams to her office this year, including utility, jobs and IRS.

“The IRS does not call you. They will send you a letter,” she said.

If a caller says they are from the IRS and gives a number, don’t call it. Holman’s advice is simple: Don’t act. Just ignore.

Jeannie Golden, 72, of Mahanoy City, said she has received three phone calls from someone claiming to be from the IRS. About a week ago, the caller left a message. Golden called the number and a man said she owed money for back taxes. He gave her a case number and said he was at her house previously.

“I was kind of worried,” Golden said. She said she asked him several questions and hung up the phone.

Golden said she called Dorothy “Dolly” Malec, chief county detective, whose number she got during a presentation at Luther Ridge at Seiders Hill, Pottsville.

Malec called the number left on Golden’s message and pretended to be her. She said she spoke to someone who gave her step-by-step instructions on how to pay a “balance” owed of $2,790. The caller told her to go to the bank and said she could not tell the bank what the money was for because they would know she supposedly had a warrant for her arrest. Malec said the caller told her to get a “tax payment voucher,” also known as a Green Dot money card. Malec said she was asked to read the numbers on the back of the card and then someone would show up at Golden’s house with paperwork for her arrest to show the issue was rectified.

Malec said she asked the caller why she could not just pay the balance at the IRS. She said the caller said she would be arrested if she appeared at the IRS office because of the warrant.

Malec said she eventually told the caller she with the Schuylkill County District Attorney’s Office. She said the caller got upset and hung up.

Malec said Golden did the right thing by calling her. She advised people to get answering machines so alleged scammers will leave a message. She also said people should not trust caller ID because the number that appears is not always the true phone number.

“Just don’t ever talk to them. They do get very nasty. They do get very aggressive,” Malec said.

Golden is thankful she was not scammed.

“Just be careful. They are after older people. You get scared when you are older,” she said.

Michele Smith, 54, of Ryan Township, said she also received several calls, all with different area codes, from someone claiming to be from the IRS. Earlier this month, she said she came home and found a message left on her answering machine saying she and her husband were being investigated for back taxes. The message said they were supposed to receive information in the mail about the delinquent taxes. The caller gave her a name and an agent’s number. The caller said the back taxes were for previous years.

Smith said she was skeptical because she paid her taxes and received refunds.

“I got a little nervous. I thought there was some type of error,” Smith said.

She called Champ Holman, husband of District Attorney Holman, and the person who prepared her taxes, who said the IRS would never call someone on the phone.

Christine Holman said she and Malec called the alleged agent’s number but were unable to get in contact with anyone. An Internet search of the phone number found it was reported as a scam, she said.

Smith said she was nervous about the phone call.

“I was worked up about it. I can imagine how an older person would feel,” she said.

Smith’s advice is to hang up and not return any alleged scammers phone call.

Holman said she and Malec have been to 15 to 20 senior centers in the county to inform people on the dangers of scams and how they can be targeted. She said they will be at Rite Aid in Shenandoah from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 1 to answer questions about scams.

Holman said she does not know how people who are preying on the elderly are getting the information but the attempts are becoming more abundant.

Holman urges caution and skepticism. She said do not give money to people you don’t know. If the callers are adamant, say you can meet them at the district attorney’s office.

The district attorney’s office has a free elder abuse protection guide that she can will mail to those who request it. It contains information about tips for staying safe and avoiding potential scams.

For more information, call Holman’s office at 570-628-1350 or the IRS at 800-829-1040. Hours of operation are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Deeds

East Union Township — Eagle Rock Resort Co. to Angelo and Emmeline Parago; Lot 148HF4, Eagle Rock; $37,269.

Eagle Rock Resort Co. to Vincent and Marie Villanueva; Lot 149HF4, Eagle Rock; $37,269.

Eagle Rock Resort Co. to Evelyn Lao and Emilio Lorenzo; Lot 151HF4, Eagle Rock; $37,269.

ALLENTOWN — A Lehigh County jury on Tuesday found Anthony Heath guilty of first-­degree murder for slaying Angela Steigerwalt and burning her corpse.

Jurors deliberated for nearly six hours before finding Heath, 26, of Allentown, guilty of murder, abuse of a corpse, theft and destroying evidence.

The verdict capped a five­-day trial filled with gruesome evidence and lurid testimony. Heath acted as his own attorney. He took the stand Monday and said Steigerwalt, 35, of Tamaqua, died accidentally during rough sex.

While never explicitly describing the act, Heath told jurors that Steigerwalt, who was married, pursued a sexual relationship with him after he made a playful comment about her “safe word” on Facebook.

In his closing statement to the jury Tuesday morning, Anthony Heath asked the panel to believe his story, saying he initially lied to police about killing her because he was trying to protect her reputation.

“It’s been a long journey,” he said, leaning on a podium and slowly shaking his head back and forth. “God knows the pain, the sorrow, the regret.”

Heath told the jury that he believed he’d proved his innocence, even if he had trouble expressing himself at times during the trial.

“I’ve been fighting tooth and nail in this courtroom. Tooth and nail,” he said.

First Assistant District Attorney Steven Luksa asked jurors to consider what Steigerwalt’s husband, Gary, and family have been through.

He projected a photo of the Tamaqua woman on the courtroom wall, and reminded the jury of the letter Heath allegedly sent Gary Steigerwalt four months after the slaying in which he described Angela Steigerwalt’s final moments in chilling detail.

Luksa asked the jury to reject Heath’s “rough sex” defense, saying there was ample proof that he killed her intentionally.

“Whether she was happily married or not, he didn’t have the right to kill her,” Luksa said.

Police say he strangled Steigerwalt to death on Jan. 31, 2014, in a fit of rage because she reneged on a plan to go with him to a child custody hearing in Northampton County. Heath then drove her body to Jim Thorpe, police say, and set it ablaze.

Firefighters putting out a brush fire near some vacation homes found her body.

ORWIGSBURG — The Blue Mountain School District will have to look for another superintendent as Robert Urzillo retires in January.

The school board accepted his retirement at the Thursday board meeting.

Heather Gosch, school board president, said the retirement did not come as a shock to the board.

“We knew his intent,” she said.

Urzillo will retire Jan. 31 when his contract expires. The board will do what is right for the district and take time searching for a new superintendent.

“Obviously, it’s an important decision,” Gosch said.

Gosch said she is going to miss Urzillo.

“He is truly a champion of public education,” she said.

Urzillo said Monday he will miss the district.

“It’s been a great experience,” he said.

He has been the superintendent since November 2010. He is proud of what the district has accomplished. Despite the financial challenges school districts face, Urzillo said Blue Mountain has remained strong.

“We were able to maintain our academic integrity,” he said.

He does not know what is next for him professionally, but said he will remain involved in education. He has been a superintendent in various districts for 30 years.

“I’m also keeping my options open,” he said.

In other news, taxpayers of the district will not see an increase in their tax bill for the 2015-16 school year. The board adopted its budget that will keep the millage rate at 37.254 mills.

The approved budget has revenues of $38,538,066 and expenditures of $40,161,488. The $1,623,422 gap will be filled by using reserve funds and the $750,000 the district received for its bond refinancing. The district could also get and other $500,000 from Gov. Tom Wolf’s proposed budget.

One mill is the equivalent of $1 of tax on every $1,000 of taxable value. Therefore, an owner of real estate with and assessed value of $100,000 will pay $3,725 a year in real estate taxes. The board voted for the preliminary budget in May with no tax hike and in January not to exceed the 2.5 percent index set by the state Department of Education.

Gosch said the bond refinancing helped out the revenues of the district because they thought they might get $506,000 from the bond refinancing.

Board member John Granito, who did not attend the meeting, said he was pleased the board adopted a budget without a tax hike.

“I’m extremely happy for the taxpayers,” he said.

School board member David Lafko did not attend the meeting.