n Ashland: The Ashland Area High School Class of 1965 will hold its 50-year reunion Sept. 6. Organizers need information on how to contact the following classmates: Brenda Brobst, Susan (Misunas) Paul, Lonna (Mallams) Malafarina, Mary (Karpovitch) Schlader, Betty Boehmer, Dennis Corrigan, Maryann (Hassell) Garroway, Laura (Boyer) Heffner, Dorothy (Ennis) Kaseman, David Moll, Joyce (Minahan) Purnell, James Umlauf and Diane (Brosius) Wolfgang. Anyone with the information is asked to call Ruby at 570-875-3182 or Kathy at 570-985-6384.

n Ashland: The Ashland Area Historic Preservation Society will hold its monthly meeting at 7 p.m. today at its headquarters, 316-318 Centre St. Army veteran Thomas Dando, Gordon, will speak on his trip last year to Normandy for the 70th anniversary of the D-Day Invasion. The meeting is open to the public with free admission. Light refreshments will be served.

n Port Carbon: The Cressona Band will perform a free concert at 7 p.m. Today at Gazebo Park, Pine and Pike streets. There will also be selections from the Junior Cressona Band. People should bring lawn chairs to enjoy the music.

n Pottsville: Installation of officers by the Pottsville Rotary Club will be held during its regular luncheon meeting on July 1, a departure from the club’s normal practice aimed at reducing the cost. The money saved, according to the Rotary Bulletin, will be used, along with a match from Rotary Charities if needed, to donate a “Shelterbox” for earthquake relief in Nepal. The club’s Kauffman chicken sale is set for Saturday at Boyer’s Markets, Pottsville. Club President Eric Lieberman said the new Pottsville Rotary tent will be at the site. The club will use the tent in various venues in a bid to raise awareness about Rotary. During a recent club meeting, Frank Peron, sergeant-at-arms, distributed a sheet on Rotary etiquette. Pottsville Rotary Club meetings are held at Vito’s Coal Fired Pizza in the Coal Creek Commerce Center, Saint Clair.

n Pottsville: Donations to the Schuylkill Area Community Foundation help people “right here in your community,” according to Eileen Kuperavage, SACF executive director. SACF “provides an ideal way to easily give back and make a positive difference in the lives of people in Schuylkill County,” she said in a release. SACF manages 143 funds and the annual fund earnings are distributed as specified by the donor. Kuperavage said contributions may be made to any fund at any time and in any amount. For more information about establishing a fund, visit www.sacfoundation.com or call Kuperavage at 570-624-7223.

n Shenandoah: The APPRISE Program of Diakon Community Services is available from 8 a.m. to noon the second Friday of each month at the Shenandoah Senior Community Center, 116 N. Main St. An APPRISE counselor is available for Medicare, extra help, Medicare Savings Program and PACE/PACENET applications. The service is free but appointments are required. For more information, call 570-624-3026.

n Shenandoah: Efforts to collect food for the food bank, which distributes items from the Divine Mercy Roman Catholic Parish office, 108 W. Cherry St., are ongoing. People are asked to bring donations of nonperishable food to the Divine Mercy or St. Casimir worship sites on the weekend or drop items off at the parish office during regular office hours. Examples of useful items include tuna, Spam, canned meats, powdered milk, peanut butter and jelly, cereal, spaghetti, sauce, and similar fare.

n Shenandoah: The Shenandoah Downtown Open-Air Farm Market is in full swing from 8 a.m. to noon Tuesdays and Fridays through November. Regional farmers and growers set up shop along the east side of the first block of South Main Street and the south side of the first block of East Centre Street near the more than century-old Bolich & Burke building. They offer fruits, vegetables, various plants/flowers and other fare. The event, the oldest of its kind in the region, is sponsored by the Greater Shenandoah Area Chamber of Commerce. Chamber Treasurer Mark Bernardyn is the market committee chairman. Additional farmers/growers are welcome to participate.

SAINT CLAIR — State Secretary of Education Pedro Rivera visited the Saint Clair Area School District on Tuesday and listened and spoke to educators about their concerns.

He was there as part of the “Schools That Teach Tour,” an idea by Gov. Tom Wolf. Jessica Hickernell, information specialist with the state Department of Education, said she selected the school because she wanted to get a wide variety of districts on the tour, which started earlier this month.

“The governor has made education funding his priority,” Rivera said.

Rivera said under the governor’s proposed budget, the district could get an extra $228,920 because of the proposed increase in education funding. With cyber charter funding reform, the district could save $70,288. Property tax relief could be $1,935,135, according to information provided by Rivera.

Saint Clair Area Principal Jason Bendle, school board President Mike Holobetz, fourth-grade teacher Sandee Mickonis, Dean of Students Matt Buletzo, special education coordinator Kacie Fetterolf and school board Secretary Tom Kaledas met in the library and talked frankly about their concerns as a district. Rivera intently listened to what they had to say.

Bendle started off by telling Rivera about the district. He said how the district sends its ninth to 12 grade students to the Pottsville Area School District. As of June 5, 565 students attended the Saint Clair Area Elementary/Middle School, and 210 attended the Pottsville High School, district business manager Terry Schane said.

However, the district has had to be very cautious with money because it only has so much money to work with, Bendle said.

“As you know, we were in the process of talks about a merger with Pottsville. Pottsville decided not to merge and at that time we understood, looking at five-year projection models, that we could not afford the tuition arrangement with Pottsville. So that was the last piece that we could not control,” Bendle said.

The district has put out a request for proposals for other districts to bid on the high school program, which are due next Tuesday. Bendle also talked about the $425,000 the district is waiting to get reimbursed from the state for a previous school renovation project. The increasing costs of pension contributions were also mentioned by Bendle.

Rivera agreed that the pension issue is on the horizon.

“The pension issue is a huge issue. This didn’t happen overnight,” he said.

Mickonis talked about the Common Core and how it is affecting students.

She said the students were getting frustrated when they were taking the test.

“It seemed like when the kids took the test, they felt very overwhelmed still,” after using appropriate resources to prepare for the tests, she said.

She said the wording was “so complicated. Kind of above their level(of a fourth-grader). They are 9 and 10 years old,” she said.

“It wasn’t the skill. I had taught all of the standards,” Mickonis said.

Bendle said the extra money from the governor is appreciated. The school board passed the 2015-16 budget and increased taxes to 34.5 mills from 32.35. Schane said that equates to a $39.25 increase for the average median home assessed at $18,250.

Rivera sympathized with district officials.

“You guys have been so close to the cliff there is no one thing you can do anymore,” he said.

“We cut all the low-hanging fruit. Their is nothing left to cut,” Bendle said, adding that “every cut that we made was not good for kids.”

For example, Bendle said “they had some classes that exceeded 35 kids per room.”

Rivera said the governor is trying to help.

“It’s been a long time since a governor has said education funding is my number one priority,” Rivera said.

After the discussion, Bendle and Holobetz said they were impressed with what Rivera had to say.

“We are hopeful that we will get the increase in the governor’s budget” Bendle said, although he realizes that not all of it might be possible.

Nine people have been killed by lightning in the United States this year, and as Lightning Safety Awareness Week gets underway, the National Weather Service hopes to see a decline in those numbers.

Data from the National Weather Service those deaths from lightning were in Arizona, Florida, Iowa, North Carolina, New Mexico and West Virginia. About 49 reported lightning deaths happen every year, according to the NWS.

Since records started being kept in 1940, the most people who have been killed by lighting have been 432 in 1943, NWS data show.

Peter Jung, a meteorologist with NWS at State College, said Tuesday that people should have a healthy respect for lightning.

“I think people do realize the power of lightning,” he said, adding they sometimes seek shelter when a storm is near.

People do not have to hear thunder to have lightning. Thunder travels about a mile every five seconds.

“You can be many miles away from the storm to be hit by lightning,” Jung said.

Lightning can strike 5 to 10 miles away from a thunderstorm, according to the Weather Channel. The temperature of that bolt of electricity can be up to 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit, which is about five times hotter then the sun.

Thunderstorms are possible Thursday and Friday, according to the NWS. The odds of being struck by lightning are 1 in 12,000 for every 80 years a person lives, NWS said. Of those struck by lightning, about 10 percent die, and the rest experience lingering effects, according to the NWS. Those who survive a lightning strike could suffer dizziness, memory loss, headaches or a more serious issue such as a heart attack.

Pottsville fire Chief Todd March said Tuesday lightning has hit buildings before in the city but there has been no major damage.

“I don’t remember a fire started by lightning,” he said.

In the county, lightning struck a home at 213 St. Peter St., Schuylkill Haven, on July 23, 2014, and caused a fire on the third floor and roof of the house. There was smoke and water damage throughout the house, which was insured.

State Farm Insurance noted Pennsylvania ranked 13 nationally in 2014, with 674 claims resulting from lightning to the tune of $3.7 million. There were 20,325 claims nationwide, amounting to more then $149 million in insurance claims, Dave Phillips, a spokesman for State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co., said.

There are things you can do to try to limit your exposure to lightning.

No place outside is safe when thunderstorms are in the area.

If you hear thunder, lightning is close enough to strike you.

When you hear thunder, immediately move to safe shelter: a substantial building with electricity or plumbing or an enclosed, metal-topped vehicle with windows up. Stay in safe shelter at least 30 minutes after you hear the last sound of thunder.

Indoor Lightning Safety

Stay off corded phones, computers and other electrical equipment that put you in direct contact with electricity.

Avoid plumbing, including sinks, baths and faucets. Stay away from windows and doors, and stay off porches. Do not lie on concrete floors, and do not lean against concrete walls.

Last Resort Outdoor Risk Reduction Tips

If you are caught outside with no safe shelter anywhere nearby the following actions may reduce your risk:

Immediately get off elevated areas such as hills, mountain ridges or peaks. Never lie flat on the ground or seek shelter under an isolated tree, Never use a cliff or rocky overhang for shelter. Immediately get out and away from ponds, lakes and other bodies of water. Stay away from objects that conduct electricity (barbed wire fences, power lines, windmills, etc.)

Myth: If you’re caught outside during a thunderstorm, you should crouch down to reduce your risk of being struck.

Fact: Crouching doesn’t make you any safer outdoors. Run to a substantial building or hard topped vehicle. If you are too far to run to one of these options, you have no good alternative. You are NOT safe anywhere outdoors. See our safety page for tips that may slightly reduce your risk.

Myth: Lightning never strikes the same place twice.

Fact: Lightning often strikes the same place repeatedly, especially if it’s a tall, pointy, isolated object. The Empire State Building is hit nearly 100 times a year.

Myth: If it’s not raining or there aren’t clouds overhead, you’re safe from lightning.

Fact: Lightning often strikes more than three miles from the center of the thunderstorm, far outside the rain or thunderstorm cloud. “Bolts from the blue” can strike 10-15 miles from the thunderstorm.

Myth: Rubber tires on a car protect you from lightning by insulating you from the ground.

Fact: Most cars are safe from lightning, but it is the metal roof and metal sides that protect you, not the rubber tires. Remember, convertibles, motorcycles, bicycles, open-shelled outdoor recreational vehicles and cars with fiberglass shells offer no protection from lightning. When lightning strikes a vehicle, it goes through the metal frame into the ground. Don’t lean on doors during a thunderstorm.

Myth: A lightning victim is electrified. If you touch them, you’ll be electrocuted.

Fact: The human body does not store electricity. It is perfectly safe to touch a lightning victim to give them first aid. This is the most chilling of lightning myths. Imagine if someone died because people were afraid to give CPR.

Myth: If outside in a thunderstorm, you should seek shelter under a tree to stay dry.

Fact: Being underneath a tree is the second leading cause of lightning casualties. Better to get wet than fried.

Myth: If you are in a house, you are 100% safe from lightning.

Fact: A house is a safe place to be during a thunderstorm as long as you avoid anything that conducts electricity. This means staying off corded phones, electrical appliances, wires, TV cables, computers, plumbing, metal doors and windows. Windows are hazardous for two reasons: wind generated during a thunderstorm can blow objects into the window, breaking it and causing glass to shatter and second, in older homes, in rare instances, lightning can come in cracks in the sides of windows.

Myth: If thunderstorms threaten while you are outside playing a game, it is okay to finish it before seeking shelter.

Fact: Many lightning casualties occur because people do not seek shelter soon enough. No game is worth death or life-long injuries. Seek proper shelter immediately if you hear thunder. Adults are responsible for the safety of children.

Myth: Structures with metal, or metal on the body (jewelry, cellphones, mp3 players, watches), attract lightning.

Fact: Height, pointy shape, and isolation are the dominant factors controlling where a lightning bolt will strike. The presence of metal makes absolutely no difference on where lightning strikes. Mountains are made of stone but get struck by lightning many times a year. When lightning threatens, take proper protective action immediately by seeking a safe shelter and don’t waste time removing metal. While metal does not attract lightning, it does conduct it so stay away from metal fences, railing, bleachers, etc.

Myth: If trapped outside and lightning is about to strike, I should lie flat on the ground.

Fact: Lying flat increases your chance of being affected by potentially deadly ground current. If you are caught outside in a thunderstorm, you keep moving toward a safe shelter.

Myth: Lightning flashes are 1.5-2.5 miles apart.

Fact: Old data said successive flashes were on the order of 1.5-2.5 miles apart. New data shows half the flashes are about 5.5 miles apart. The National Severe Storms Laboratory report concludes: “It appears the safety rules need to be modified to increase the distance from a previous flash which can be considered to be relatively safe, to at least 6 to 8 miles. In the past, 2-3 miles was as used in lightning safety education.”

Myth: Lightning can spread out some 60 feet after striking earth.

Fact: Radial horizontal arcing has been measured at least 65 feet from the point where lightning hits ground. Depending on the soil’s characteristics, safe conditions for people and equipment near lightning termination points (ground rods) may need to be re-evaluated.

Source: The National Weather Service, www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov

City officials would like to see the open-air Pottsville Farmers Market happen twice a week instead of just once on Saturdays during the warmer months, as it has been since it started in 2003.

“We’d like to hold it from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesdays, but first we need to find at least two farmers who are interested,” Amy S. Burkhart, executive director of the Pottsville Area Business Association, said Tuesday.

PADCO’s Business Development Committee is pitching the concept and is looking for vendors to get involved, Burkhart said.

The vendors participating in the current market — held from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturdays at the Pottsville Parking Authority’s Arch Street Parking Lot — said they might not be able to be a part of a Tuesday event. But they made suggestions on how the existing farmers market can evolve.

“There’s tons of room for growth. I’d like to see other types of vendors, maybe vendors who serve to-go food. Oftentimes at well-attended markets you see more bakers, cheese vendors and some artisans,” Michael Scheidel, owner of Little Peace Farm, Schuylkill Haven, said.

The PADCO Business Development Committee’s members include: Burkhart; City Administrator Thomas A. Palamar; Richard J. Torpey, owner of Eastern Press; and Richard Thornburg, an attorney from Pottsville.

“We’re always trying to bring people into our downtown and make our downtown businesses more successful and I think there’s something special about the vibrancy of a farmers market. During lunchtime you can run down and take something home, like fresh corn,” Palamar said Tuesday.

On Saturday, there were three farmers and a baker vending. The other two farmers were John David Rumbel, Ringtown, and Jeff C. Schaeffer, Klingerstown. The baker was “My Nana’s Kitchen,” run by Lucy Gerace, Tamaqua, and her husband, Phil.

“Generally, mid-week markets aren’t as well-attended as weekend markets. But if there’s enough traffic, and if the city would promote it and work to get people out, it’s possible,” Scheidel said.

“I can’t make it. I have every day of my week full. In Pottsville, Saturday’s it,” Schaeffer said.

“I don’t know about a second day. I know I can come out maybe one day. We have a couple markets we do as well,” Rumbel said.

One vendor who rolls into the city to sell fresh meat near the Arch Street lot on weekdays is Bowman’s Produce, Valley View. Bowman’s is there on Wednesdays and Fridays, according to Palamar.

The Pottsville Farmers Market was started in 2003, and it has traditionally been held at Pottsville’s Arch Street parking lot, which is owned by the Pottsville Parking Authority. Every year, it starts in June and wraps in November, Burkhart said.

“We try to stay here until Thanksgiving,” Rumbel said.

While PADCO has served as a point of contact for the farmers market, it’s really run by a “cooperative” made up by the market’s current vendors, Burkhart said.

“The market operates in a cooperative effort and vendors must be voted upon and accepted by the existing members. The Pottsville Farmers Market is a buy-local market, meaning that 75 percent of the goods sold by vendors there must be grown or made in Schuylkill County,” Burkhart said.

“Market rent is largely utilized for marketing efforts. Rental rates are approximately $100 per month per vendor. Members must be registered with the city of Pottsville,” Burkhart said.

Organizations interested in vending at the Pottsville Farmers Market on either Saturdays or Tuesdays can contact Burkhart at 570-628-4647.

“We do relatively well here on a Saturday. I can’t complain. And it doesn’t matter if it’s raining or shining, our crowd stays consistent. It’s nice. I like coming here,” Schaeffer said.

Earlier this year, city officials also considered the idea of finding an indoor location for the market.

“An indoor market, if it would be feasible, would be good on a rainy day,” Rumbel said.

“But we don’t have enough fresh produce in the winter,” Schaeffer said.

“Everything would be coming from either Florida or Mexico during the winter,” Scheidel said.

“We’d have to import it from Florida or California,” Schaeffer said.

“We grow all year long on our farm, salad greens and stuff like that, and there are some things you can store and sell throughout the winter. But generally you’d have to get farmers who already go to auctions and buy large amounts of stuff and resell it,” Scheidel said.

“It’s a good idea. And guys like Mike have greenhouses that are heated so he can put a product out all winter long. But I can’t,” Schaffer said.

For sale at Scheidel’s table Saturday was a variety of vegetables, including zucchini, squash, turnips and kale.

“We only sell what we grow. And we grow everything here by seed. This is an Italian heirloom beet called chioggia. They’re striped inside,” Scheidel said as he sliced one to reveal those stripes.

Schaeffer’s stand included watermelon, cantaloupe, celery, broccoli, apricots and plums.

The cornucopia at Rumbel’s included wax beans, tomatoes and Queen Anne cherries.

The baker’s stand included varieties of sticky buns, banana bread and strawberry muffins.

Those vendors want to continue to explore ways to improve the Saturday event.

“One idea I had was to have a rotating space where you would have a different vendor every week. One week you’d have a meat vendor. The next week you’d have a cheese vendor. The next week you’d have a baker, and so forth,” Scheidel said.

“I’d like to have rotational vendors coming in. You got to knock on doors to see who’s available. We need complimentary items. We have enough produce. You don’t need 15 farmers here. But we need more to make it a one-stop shop. I’d like to see a meat vendor here at least every other week,” Schaeffer said.

“Maybe a winery,” Phil Gerace said.

“You need something that will draw people’s attention, but not draw them away from our business,” Rumbel said.

“We don’t want to turn this into a flea market. But it would be great if there were events, maybe live music, maybe someone sitting with a guitar,” Scheidel said.

Rumbel said he hopes the city does more to promote the existing market, “because a lot of people don’t know we’re here.”

FRACKVILLE — The annual recognition ceremony for police officers and departments for their efforts in 2014 in curbing aggressive driving and reducing fatalities was held Tuesday in Frackville.

Eight local police departments and the Pennsylvania State Police barracks at Frackville and Schuylkill Haven were recognized for their dedication and commitment to the Pennsylvania Aggressive Driving Enforcement and Education Program at the Frackville Community Ambulance Association building.

The awards presentation was followed by an instructional meeting conducted by the North Central Highway Safety Network in conjunction with Buckle Up PA and the state Department of Transportation.

Pennsylvania Traffic Safety Network regional coordinators Carol Alonge and Joseph O’Donnell and Buckle Up PA Northeast Law Enforcement liaison Robert Webre conducted the seminar. As the liaison, Webre is the go-between for PennDOT and the municipal police departments.

“I know you don’t get enough praise and pats on the back all that often, but I want to make sure that I do that,” Alonge said as she opened the program. “Congratulations and recognition for all that you do. We appreciate what you have done and what you will continue to do in the future.”

According to the state Traffic Safety Enforcement Resource Center website, PAADEEP is a statewide initiative that utilizes crash data to identify aggressive driving locations. High visibility target enforcement, coordinated earned media, public awareness and training are conducted on these roads to reduce the number of needless aggressive driving injuries and deaths. The partnership is comprised of municipal police departments, the Pennsylvania State Police, PennDOT, the U.S. Department of Transportation and community groups and organizations.

The guest speaker was Dennis R. Toomey, P.E., district traffic and operations engineer with PennDOT’s Engineering District 5-0 office in Allentown. The district has six counties and includes Schuylkill County.

“As a PennDOT safety and traffic engineer, I want to encourage you and thank you for the very large role you play in highway safety,” Toomey said to the police officers. “I do a lot of traffic studies and safety studies and I get to read your police accident reports, so if you think that somebody’s not reading those every time you fill out a crash report, I’m someone who does. They are very informative and helpful. One thing I know from looking at those reports is that I can go out and redesign an intersection to meet current design and safety standards. I can rebuild a road that is nice and smooth and straight. I can do studies to say that this is the right speed limit, here’s where we can put stop signs, or maybe put warning signs, or put up a better or new traffic signal. At the end of the day, it’s really your role, your efforts, that are key to dealing with the safety issues and what we call the ‛human factors’ on the enforcement side of things.”

Toomey said that 2014 had 160 highway fatalities in District 5-0. He said that in the first half of 2015, there is a slight decline in the numbers as compared to last year.

“The goal is to not to have 10 percent less than last year, or 25 percent less. The goal is zero fatalities,” Toomey said. “Even one fatality is too many. That one could be our family member, our parent, our best friend, our co-worker.”

The first individual award went to Butler Township Lt. Daniel Holderman, who was recognized for his work in helping to curb aggressive driving in the township. Holderman was unable to attend and had Patrolman Shawn Butler accept the award on his behalf. The second individual award was presented to Tamaqua Police Department Patrolman Richard Bekesy.

The following municipal police departments were recognized, with four certificates accepted by a department representative:

• Ashland Police Department — Chief Mark O’Hearn.

• Butler Township Police Department — Butler.

• Rush Township Police Department — Sgt. Duane Frederick.

• Tamaqua Police Department — Bekesy.

• West Mahanoy Township Police Department — Patrolman Raymond Tonkinson.

Also recognized were the police departments in Frackville, Schuylkill Haven and West Penn Township.

Sgt. Devon Brutosky, Pennsylvania State Police station commander in Frackville, accepted the recognition for his barracks. The PSP Schuylkill Haven barracks was also recognized.

The next aggressive driving enforcement effort, which targets aggressive driving behaviors such as speeding, tailgating and running red lights, is planned for Aggressive Driving Wave 3 from July 6 to Aug. 30. Law enforcement will also target unsafe driving behaviors that include driving too fast for conditions, texting, careless driving, work zone safety violations and other aggressive driving actions.

In recent Schuylkill County Court action, Judge John E. Domalakes accepted guilty pleas from, and, pursuant to agreements between prosecutors and defendants, imposed the indicated sentences on, these people:

Matthew R. Adams Jr., 26, of Port Carbon; burglary and disorderly conduct; three to 18 months in prison, $150 fine, $50 payment to the Criminal Justice Enhancement Account and submission of a DNA sample to law enforcement authorities. Prosecutors withdrew three counts of possession of a controlled substance and one each of criminal trespass, theft, receiving stolen property, carrying a firearm without a license and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Willie L. Adams III, 24, of Shenandoah; disorderly conduct and criminal mischief; 94 to 188 days in prison, $75 fine, $50 CJEA payment and $81.53 restitution.

Troy R. Everitt, 45, of Pottsville; disorderly conduct; 72 days to 12 months in prison and $50 CJEA payment.

Carly Fairchild, 21, Coaldale; possession of drug paraphernalia; 12 months probation and $100 payment to the Substance Abuse Education Fund.

Jeremy J. Guida, 22, of Pottsville; possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia; 12 months probation, $100 SAEF payment, $50 CJEA payment and $113 restitution to the state police crime laboratory in Bethlehem.

Emilio S. Jack, 24, of Pottsville; possession of drug paraphernalia; 12 months probation, $100 SAEF payment and $50 CJEA payment.

Gina M. Keiter-Wise, 32, of Minersville; two counts each of access device fraud, identity theft and theft by deception and one each of receiving stolen property and theft; sentencing deferred pending preparation of a presentence investigation.

Brett M. Kline, 21, of Mahanoy City; retail theft; 18 months probation and $50 CJEA payment.

Adam M. Lutz, 28, of McAdoo; possession of drug paraphernalia; 42 days to 12 months in prison, $100 SAEF payment, $50 CJEA payment and $233.05 bench warrant fee.

Brian J. McClintock, 39, of Pottsville; disorderly conduct; $75 fine. Prosecutors withdrew a charge of resisting arrest.

Anthony Morales, 22, of Brooklyn, New York; criminal mischief and disorderly conduct; 12 months probation, $50 CJEA payment, $50 bench warrant fee and $3,394.47 restitution.

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

Geisinger Medical Center, Danville

To Robert Jr. and Samantha R. Harris Bracey, New Philadelphia, a son, June 17.

A Schuylkill County judge on Tuesday awarded a Mahanoy City lawyer $5,000 from a bail account whose past handling is being investigated by federal prosecutors.

Jeffrey J. Markosky earned the money by representing a defendant in a drug case, and what happened to the cash in the county clerk of courts office is not his problem, Judge Charles M. Miller ruled.

“It’s been admitted” that Markosky earned and is entitled to the money, Miller said.

The question about the money is an after-effect of the continuing investigation of what happened to the bail account under former Clerk of Courts Stephen M. Lukach Jr.

“It is likely that the funds were allegedly misappropriated by the former clerk of courts,” Markosky’s May 7 petition for the return of the money reads in part.

Lukach, who retired on April 14, 2014, while serving his seventh term in office, allegedly misappropriated public money, although he has not been charged with any crimes.

“(Federal prosecutors) have it,” District Attorney Christine A. Holman said of the investigation. “The status is the same as it was, pending.”

Current Clerk of Courts Thomas J. Campion Jr. also said he has not talked to anyone about the probe for a long time.

Investigations by county Controller Christy Joy and the state auditor general’s office each concluded there were inadequate internal controls and segregation of duties in the office.

Markosky testified that the $5,000 had been posted on behalf of his client, Larry Ramos, 64, of Harrisburg, and the money had been assigned to him. He said that is a common practice by lawyers to ensure that they get paid, although they do not collect the money until the case is over.

“From what I hear ... I’m entitled to that money,” he said.

Ramos had been charged with two counts of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and one of possession of a controlled substance. Prosecutors withdrew the charges against him on Aug. 15, 2014.

Campion, who is both a lawyer and a certified public accountant, testified during Tuesday’s hearing that he had no question that Markosky deserved the money, but the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts had told him he could not give the money back because no records existed to indicate the money had been deposited in the bail account.

“Our records indicate bail was posted,” but not that it was deposited, he said. “I can’t say the money’s not there.”

Markosky said he is not to blame for any missing money.

“I don’t think they know where the money is,” he said. “Where it went from (the office), I don’t know.”

Campion said he follows the changes started by his immediate predecessor, Paul Steffanic, who took over when Lukach retired, to ensure that such problems do not occur again.

“We have a certain procedure,” Campion said.

Bail money is not put in the office vault in individual envelopes before being taken daily to the county treasurer’s office, he said.

Other money collected, including costs, fines and fees, is put in locked drawers by the office employees, reconciled every day and also taken daily to the treasurer’s office, Campion said.

“All the cash is deposited every day,” Campion said.

Man’s pants catch fire, cause burn

A man was taken by ambulance to Lehigh Valley Health Network’s burn unit after he suffered burns to his leg Tuesday.

Raymond Poppich, 72, of Mount Carbon, was at McDonald’s on Route 61, across from Fairlane Village mall, about 4 p.m. when his pant leg caught fire.

“He had second- and third-degree burns on his right leg,” Pottsville fire Chief Todd March said.

Dennis Hewes, 58, of Mount Carbon, said he was at McDonald’s with Poppich when the man went outside to smoke. Soon after, Poppich entered the restaurant again with his pant leg on fire. Hewes and customers threw soda on Poppich’s pants to attempt to douse the fire. Poppich was taken to the restroom to douse the remaining fire.

Shawn Raup-Konsavage, director of operations for McDonald’s, said an employee tried to put out the flames with a fire extinguisher.

The man was transported on a stretcher to a Schuylkill EMS ambulance after emergency units arrived.

“It definitely was an accident,” Hewes said.

His right hand was slightly injured during the incident.

Raup-Konsavage said he was told by a customer that Poppich was trying to “burn his shoelace to shorten it. Then, unfortunately, he caught his shoes and pants on fire.”

A Lehigh Valley hospital employee confirmed Poppich was in the hospital’s burn unit but was unable to provide additional information on his condition.

No other injuries were reported at the McDonald’s.

March said he was originally called to McDonald’s for reports of a structure fire before arriving on the scene.

Task force starts June DUI patrols

The North Central Regional Sobriety Checkpoint DUI Task Force has announced sobriety checkpoints and roving DUI patrols will be conducted until Tuesday on routes 61, 183, 901, 209, 1006, 309, 1008, 443, 895, 125, 25, 924 and 54.

The North Central Highway Safety Network reminded travelers if they suspect a drunk driver to dial 911. To report underage drinking call 888-UNDER21.

The Sobriety Checkpoints are part of the North Central PA Regional Sobriety Checkpoint and Expanded DUI/Underage Drinking Enforcement Program funded through the state Department of Transportation and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Butler Twp. police report lost items

ASHLAND — The Butler Township Police Department reported several found items that are unclaimed.

The items include a mountain bike found in the Englewood area of the township in 2012, a boy’s bicycle found in Cresswell Gardens in 2012 and various women’s rings found in Fountain Springs in 2011.

To claim the items, call Butler Township police Lt. Daniel Holdeman at 570-875-4131 within the next 30 days.

Although a judge determined he is not a sexually violent predator, Harry W. Schnoke will be subject to lifetime Megan’s Law sanctions following a hearing Tuesday in Schuylkill County Court.

“We will enter an order requiring the lifetime” sanctions, Judge John E. Domalakes said after determining Schnoke, 75, of Pine Grove, is not a sexually violent predator.

Domalakes followed the recommendation of the state Sexual Offenders Assessment Board in ruling on Schnoke’s status.

The lifetime sanctions, which will take effect when the defendant leaves state prison, are mandatory under state law for Schnoke’s offense.

The sanctions require Schnoke to provide his name, address, employment, any schools he might attend, registration of any vehicles he owns and other information to the Pennsylvania State Police. Any violation of the sanctions would be an additional crime and subject Schnoke to further prosecution.

“He understands the registration requirements,” Arlen R. Day II, Pottsville, Schnoke’s lawyer, told Domalakes.

Schnoke pleaded guilty on Feb. 18 to involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, with prosecutors withdrawing charges of corruption of minors, indecent exposure and indecent assault.

At that time, pursuant to an agreement between prosecutors and the defendant, Domalakes sentenced Schnoke to serve three to six years in a state correctional institution, pay costs and $50 to the Criminal Justice Enhancement Account, have no contact with the victim and submit a DNA sample to law enforcement authorities.

State police at Schuylkill Haven charged Schnoke with sexually molesting a teenage boy between June 1, 2011, and Aug. 31, 2011, in Pine Grove. Prosecutors said the victim was 14 years old at the time he was molested.

Domalakes conducted the hearing by videoconference, since Schnoke already is an inmate at SCI/Mercer.

By picking ballots from the belly of a jade green ceramic fish as big as a desktop computer, representatives of the first charter school in Schuylkill County on Wednesday selected 10 students to fill seats in its classes for the 2015-16 school year.

Another lottery may be held at Gillingham Charter School in Pottsville before the start of the school year for grades 10, 11 and 12, depending on how many applications come in between now and then, according to Tara Cromis, the school’s enrollment and communications coordinator.

Since Gillingham opened in fall 2011, it’s grown. It started out with kindergarten through ninth grade. In the 2014-15 school year, it had its first senior class. For the 2015-16 school year, Gillingham can have up to 20 students in kindergarten and up to 22 in grades first through 12th.

Lotteries are held when there are more applicants than seats, and they determine who will be put into classes or wait lists. The lottery was held Wednesday at the school at 915 Howard Ave.

“So if I get more applications than I have seats open, then I’ll do a lottery. Otherwise, I’ll just fill in as they come in,” Cromis said.

Following Wednesday’s lottery, grades K through 10th were filled, Cromis said.

In Wednesday’s lottery, three students were given seats in Gillingham’s kindergarten: Rhea Mcnally of North Schuylkill and Dianna Velosky and Damian Whalen of Shenandoah Valley.

One student was given a seat in second grade, Caine Faust of Minersville Area. Since his name was picked, Gillingham’s admission’s policy allowed his sister, Nyla Faust, to nab a seat in fourth grade, Cromis said.

At the lottery, two students were given seats in sixth grade, Joe Needham of Shenandoah Valley and Anna Kopp of Williams Valley.

One student was admitted to eighth grade, Colby Klepusnick of North Schuylkill, and one was given a seat in ninth, Mitchell Sabol of Tamaqua Area.

So far, there are 18 students signed up for the 11th grade class and 16 signed up to be Gillingham’s 2015-16 seniors, Cromis said.

The Gillingham Charter School board of trustees will hold its June meeting tonight at the school. Agenda items will include a vote to give final approval to the school’s 2015-16 budget.

Deeds

Cass Township — Marian Miller and Catherine Crowe, executrices of the Estate of Steve Peron, to Brandon and Evelyn Kopinetz; 356 High Road; $159,000.

East Union Township — Eagle Rock Resort Co. to Teodorico and Aleja Borla; Lot 152HF4, Eagle Rock; $37,269.

Eagle Rock Resort Co. to Gerald H. Christophe; Lot 207HF3, Eagle Rock; $49,389.

Eagle Rock Resort Co. to Rolando and Maria Lourdes E. Cantiga; Lot 251HF3, Eagle Rock; $37,269.

Eagle Rock Resort Co. to Analie E. and Desiderio Domingo; Lot 323HF3, Eagle Rock; $36,259.

Eagle Rock Resort Co. to Ma J.S. and Marcelo Baldove Lamentac; Lot 355HF3, Eagle Rock; $38,279.

Eagle Rock Resort Co. to Imelda I. Torres and Alfredo Gamboa; Lot 215WSS, Eagle Rock; $40,299.

Foster Township — Brandon and Evelyn Kopinetz to Cody M. Conville; 10 Lower Beechwood Ave., Buck Run; $60,000.

Girardville — Patrick T. and Kimberly Huben to Brad P. Himes; 127 W. Ogden St.; $1.

Brad P. Himes to Baytay LLC; 127 W. Ogden St.; $8,000.

North Union Township — Eagle Rock Resort Co. to Renaud P. and Donna A. Gatapia; Lot 46HF1, Eagle Rock; $26,900.

Deep Enterprises LLC to Eagle Rock Resort Co.; Lot 73AW, Eagle Rock; $8,000.

Dwyer Associates to Eagle Rock Resort Co.; Lot 66E, Eagle Rock; $5,800.

Timothy and Lorraine Mulligan to Eagle Rock Resort Co.; Lot 109E, Eagle Rock; $7,500.

Steven and Rosa Oifer to Eagle Rock Resort Co.; Lot 170EA, Eagle Rock; $8,000.

Eagle Rock Resort Co. to Michael and Lucia Benell; Lot 46AWS, Eagle Rock; $37,269.

The 15th annual Chinese auction will be held on Friday and Saturday at Christmas Pines Campground, but the charity it benefits has been switched.

“This year’s recipient of our profits is Keystone Wounded Warriors. We just decided there was a lot of veterans and we wanted to honor our servicemen this year,” Lois Dalton, an event organizer, said Wednesday.

The annual Chinese auction previously raised money for Make-A-Wish, but Dalton thought sharing the benefits of the auction with Keystone Wounded Warriors would help recognize veterans.

Over the past 14 years, the Chinese auction at Christmas Pines Campground, 450 Red Church Road, Auburn, has raised $96,500, Dalton said.

The past 14 years for the auction would not have been possible without the support of many, including Barb Folweiller, the Christmas Pines campers for selling tickets and especially the campground owners.

“I want to thank Barb Folweiller for helping me and especially all of the campers of Christmas Pines. The main thing is to thank Dorrie and Clyde Lowthert, the owners. We couldn’t do it without them. It’s not just myself and Barb. It’s Dorrie and Clyde and the campers, as well, and all of the local merchants who donated,” Dalton said.

At least 60 merchants donated to the auction this year, she added.

The Chinese auction is always held on the weekend after Father’s Day, rain or shine, though it has never rained during an auction yet, she said.

A shop and drop will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday where those who don’t plan on coming Saturday may buy their tickets.

A browsing period will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday directly followed by the auction.

Guests are asked to bring their own lawn chairs.

More than 300 prizes will be raffled at the auction. The two grand prizes are a recliner and a party bucket filled with a $250 gift certificate for meat at a select store as well as assorted kitchen items, beverages and spices. Tickets for the grand prize raffle are $5 each. Large prize tickets are $1 each for items such as a trampoline, three person swing, a 13-by-13-foot gazebo, lottery tree, $100 cash prize and a family entertainment board with tickets to amusement parks and fairs. Small prize tickets, or strip tickets, are $4 for 25 tickets. A 50/50 will also be held.

Those with an appetite for both prizes and food can purchase Coney Island hamburgers and hotdogs, french fries and haluski both days. A bake sale will be held Saturday.

For more information on the auction, call Dorrie Lowthert at 570-366-8866.

According to www.keystonewartimewarriors.org, Keystone Wounded Warriors is an eastern state-based nonprofit corporation reaches to all men and women in the military, but specifically those wounded on or after Sept. 11, 2001. Funds donated to Keystone Wounded Warriors are used to support local post-9/11 veterans and their families located in or with ties to Pennsylvania. The remaining funds are donated to national post-9/11 wounded veterans organizations.

HAMBURG — Brian Goodwin is putting aside the pain after knee surgery to make a 60-mile bike ride with two others from Harrisburg to Pine Grove on Oct. 10 to benefit other wounded veterans.

“I do a lot of riding. I love helping people. Riding my bike the one day, I see all these people helping people and I was in the service. I need to help Keystone Wounded Warriors. I didn’t want to help the bigger guys, I came to these guys because they’re down to earth, met with me no problem, no issues and I just want to help them out. It’s a brotherhood,” Goodwin, 48, of Tremont, said Wednesday outside the Hamburg American Legion, 650 Franklin St.

A veteran of the Army Reserves for 13 years, Goodwin was determined to make the bike ride regardless of his knee surgery.

“They wanted to originally start at Gettysburg and ride to (Pine Grove) for 100 miles, but now they’re going to start at Harrisburg because of his knee,” Paul Spurgin, co-founder and executive director of the Keystone Wounded Warriors, said Wednesday.

“We’re going to start from the capital steps, head up past (Route) 22 through Grantville, take (Route) 443 all the way up through Fort Indiantown Gap, stop at Lickdale — the American Legion there, they’re going to take us in for a rest point — and from there up to Pine Grove — Daubert’s Beer. Mike and Steve, they own Daubert’s and they are vets, too,” Goodwin said.

Spurgin hopes once Goodwin’s knee heals, they may be able to do the bike ride again next year starting in Gettysburg and have it open to the public, he said.

Goodwin had his third knee surgery in the past five years in March and has been recovering his stamina slowly.

“I do 15 to 20 miles per day when I’m working. On the weekend, I ride anywhere from 30 to 50 miles. With the knee surgery, I’m just getting back to 20 miles a day,” he said.

Sixty miles will be the longest bike ride Goodwin has ever done.

Training consists of more than just riding a bike for Goodwin.

“I do a little work out in the morning, I’ll life some weights, I do all my knee exercises and all that. I get on my bike and just go,” he said. “I started eating healthy again, but I still like my beer and steak,” Goodwin said with a laugh.

Sundays are his rest day.

Goodwin has improved his distance and stamina while bike riding over the past few months.

“It’s actually excellent. I have good and bad days, but it’s good. I don’t take any ibuprofen or any pain pills. I ride through it,” he said.

Training on Tuesday involved a bike ride to Fort Indiantown Gap where Goodwin met many soldiers from around the country.

“I guess the National Guards are all in. I got to meet the soldiers and I just stopped by to talk to them. The two I talked to just got back from Afghanistan and that means a lot to me,” Goodwin said.

Goodwin suggested the bike ride to Spurgin last year at a poker and motorcycle run.

“Last year we did a poker and motorcycle run here and he and his beautiful wife stopped by here and said ‘We want to do a bike ride for you and here’s how we’re going to do it,’ so I didn’t have an option,” Spurgin said with a laugh.

Riding along with Goodwin will be his brother, Brad Goodwin, 51, and his best friend who served in the Army with him, Mike Walter, 50.

“When we ride in groups, we’re not waiting for each other. We’re going to pick a point and meet there. My wife and my buddy’s wife, they’re going to be our chase vehicle. We’re always getting flats. We’ll have maintenance and our tool box out here because we do all the work on our bikes ourselves,” Goodwin said.

Goodwin has done his own maintenance on the bike he’s owned for the past four years and will take that bike on the road Oct. 10.

“You should see it after the ride to Fort Indiantown Gap. There was gummy bears and stuff all over here, I had horse poop and rocks all under here from the trails because they allow horses on some of the trails,” he said. Along with cleaning his bike, he makes sure it is safe to ride with things like safety lights and blinkers.

The number of times Goodwin has almost been hit by a vehicle while riding has him pleading people to stop texting and driving for bikers’ safety, as well.

The bike ride benefits the Keystone Wounded Warriors in multiple ways.

Those who wish to sponsor Goodwin by a certain amount of money per-mile he rides can call his house at 570-695-2320. They may also show up at Nuthin’ Fancy BBQ, Pine Grove, on Oct. 10 to buy a platter or Philly Pretzel Factory, Hamburg, as part of the proceeds will be donated.

Keystone Wounded Warriors was started in 2009 by Spurgin and an active duty captain in the Marine Corps.

“We formed the organization on the principle to offer assistance to the wounded or injured ... and since then we’ve helped over 500 in the state of Pennsylvania. It’s easier to say what we don’t do. We don’t pay off credit card debt simply because we’re giving them another line of credit nor do we buy cars. However, if cars are donated, then we’ll get a warrior together with whoever’s donating. We have a series of dealerships in the state that will do the paperwork free. Anything else, we try to help with,” Spurgin said.

Spurgin was wounded in the Marine Corps on Dec. 5, 1965, in Vietnam.

According to www.keystonewarriors.com, Keystone Wounded Warriors is an eastern state-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation that reaches out to all men and women in the military, but specifically those wounded on or after Sept. 11, 2001. Funds donated to Keystone Wounded Warriors are used to support local post-9/11 veterans and their families located in or with ties to Pennsylvania. The remaining funds are donated to national post-9/11 wounded veterans organizations.

Those who wish to donate to Keystone Wounded Warriors can volunteer at events by contacting them at www.keystonewarriors.com, donating to the food pantry in Shoemakersville or donating to P.O. Box 475 Landon, PA 19510.

Contracts dominated Wednesday’s meeting of the Schuylkill County commissioners, including approval of one to replace a 101-year-old bridge in Barry Township.

Barletta Materials Inc., Tamaqua, will receive $454,726.25 to construct the new bridge to carry Cave Road over Deep Creek. Barletta was the lowest responsible bidder on the project, according to the commissioners.

Built in 1914, the bridge was the highest priority on the county’s list of projects, county engineer Lisa Mahall said after the commissioners meeting.

“It was not in good shape and it needed to be replaced. It had a weight restriction,” Mahall said of the bridge. “It was requested by PennDOT.”

Liquid fuels tax money will be used to fund the project, county Administrator Mark J. Scarbinsky said.

“It’s what we consider good use of liquid fuels money,” he said.

The commissioners, sans the absent commissioners Chairman Frank J. Staudenmeier, also approved numerous other contracts, including one for more than $6 million with Service Access & Management Inc. to operate the county Mental Health/Developmental Services program for one year beginning July 1.

Commissioner George F. Halcovage Jr. said the county outsourced the program, which had been known as Mental Health/Mental Retardation, several years ago, and now only oversees it. The entire amount, $6,038,261.97, for the program comes from the state, Halcovage said.

The commissioners also approved two contracts concerning the Schuylkill County communications system.

The first, a one-year service agreement effective on July 1, is with Greens Communications, Pottsville, to maintain the county’s communications system. The amount is $274,023.24, which Halcovage said is the same as this year and also will come from the state.

The second is with Essentials Management Solutions, Pottsville, for $12,260 per month for general consulting support services. That also will be effective July 1 and is for the same amount as this year’s pact.

“We’re not in that business,” Halcovage said.

Also on Wednesday, the commissioners approved the hiring of four new part-time employees at Rest Haven, the county nursing home.

Annabel Hall, Tamaqua, and Laura Rodriguez, Pottsville, will be nurse’s aides; Jennifer Lewis, Schuylkill Haven, will be a housekeeper, laundry aide and floor care technician; and Charles Rushannon, Pottsville, will be a storeroom clerk. Hall and Rodriguez each will earn $12.69 per hour, while Lewis and Rushannon each will earn $9.74 per hour. Rushannon’s appointment will be effective on Monday, while the other three will be effective July 2.

n Gordon: At a recent meeting, members of the Gordon Area Senior Citizens group held a memorial service conducted by Grace Jones. Via the lighting of candles in their memory, members honored seven comrades. The group held election of officers in May with the following results: President, Bruce Mervine; vice president, Grace Jones; secretary, Dorothy Deeter; treasurer, Joann Young; chaplain, Leona Sheipe and chairwoman Grace Long. The group, according to a release, was organized in April 1970 and marked its 45th year in April.

n Mahanoy City: The Mahanoy City Visiting Nurse Association recently acknowledged the following memorials: For Marie D’Amico from Osarene D’Amico Kunkle, Lorraine Schmerfeld, Pat and Ferdinand Morro, Craig O’Brien, June Navratil; for Emma DeAngelo from Jeff and Anne Marie Keff and family; for Jack Fowler from Jeff and Anne Marie Keff and family; for Frank Gatto from Kathy Wufsus, Gerry and Jack Scully, the family of Emma DeAngelo; for Joseph O’Brien by Anne Marie Babinsky; for Daniel Sleva from Jeff and Anne Marie Keff and family. Information about the VNA was provided by Lois M. Griffiths.

n Mahanoy City: The revitalization group Mahanoy City Downtown Inc., 239 E. Pine St., will sponsor a townwide yard sale from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday to benefit the revitalization effort. For more information, call 570-773-2150.

n McAdoo: All Saints Roman Catholic Parish, 35 N. Cleveland St., will hold its annual parish festival from 5 to 10 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday on the church grounds. The event will include a wide variety of food, including pierogies, halupki, halushki, meatballs, sausage, potato cakes and other items, beverages, tricky trays, games and entertainment Saturday by the Golden Tones and on Sunday by disc jockey John Shigo. All are welcome.

n Orwigsburg: The Orwigsburg Business & Professional Association will sponsor June Jamboree from 5:30 to 9 p.m. today at the Market Street parking lot, 101 E. Market St. Artists will share their creations and works. Regional restaurants and wineries will offer their specialties and cold beer will be available as will live music for dancing. Admission is free. For more information, call 570-691-6886.

n Pine Grove: The Kittatinny Hunting & Fishing Club, 925 Swopes Valley Road, will sponsor an open house from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. The open house, according to a club release, will show what the group has to offer and the club will also accept new members. For more information, call 570-449-3755.

n Port Clinton: The Port Clinton Transportation Museum will sponsor a townwide yard sale from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, with many sites participating. The museum will be open for visitors and hot dogs, soup and cold beverages will be on sale. For more information, call 610-562-3996.

n Pottsville: The city’s 2015 fireworks celebration, sponsored by Pottsville Positive, is set for noon to 10 p.m. Saturday at Union Station, Progress Avenue. Events will begin at noon with the Independence Day Parade followed by a day near Union Station that will include live music, rides, arts and crafts and food. All are welcome, there is no admission fee. The fireworks display will begin about 9:30 p.m.

n Tamaqua: The Tamaqua Senior Citizens organization has changed the location for its regular meetings to the Tamaqua YMCA, 1201 E. Broad St., which is accessible to the handicapped. The group meets at 1 p.m. every Thursday. Anyone 55 or older is welcome to join. Meetings normally conclude with refreshments, cards and social games.

Richard M. Dasch is a sexually violent predator and must serve time in prison and on probation for molesting two girls, a Schuylkill County judge decided Wednesday.

Dasch, 45, of Friedensburg, will spend three to 23 months in prison, plus an additional 23 months on probation, under the terms of Judge John E. Domalakes’ sentence.

Domalakes, who sentenced Dasch in accordance with a plea agreement between prosecutors and the defendant, also ruled he is a sexually violent predator and thereby subject to lifetime Megan’s Law sanctions.

By so ruling, Domalakes accepted the testimony by Pottsville psychologist Joseph B. Sheris, who conducted the state Sexual Offenders Assessment Board evaluation of Dasch.

“He does meet the criteria ... for a pedophilic disorder,” Sheris said of Dasch. “He repeatedly engaged in sexual acts with prepubescent children.”

Dasch had pleaded guilty on Feb. 18 to three counts each of corruption of minors and indecent assault.

State police at Schuylkill Haven charged Dasch with assaulting one girl on Dec. 28, 2013, when she was 15, and another when she was 7 and again on Aug. 1, 2013, when she was 11.

Sheris testified Dasch’s assaults against two girls was a factor in concluding he is a sexually violent predator. Another important factor was his having been involved in a similar incident while he was in the military.

“We have a long history of sexual offenses against children,” Sheris said. “He acted on those urges. It is a lifetime condition.”

In addition to prison time, probation and Megan’s Law sanctions, Dasch also must pay costs and $100 to the Criminal Justice Enhancement Account, and submit a DNA sample to law enforcement authorities, under the terms of Domalakes’ sentence.

The Megan’s Law sanctions, which will take effect when the defendant leaves prison, will require Dasch to provide his name, address, employment, any schools he might attend, registration of any vehicles he owns and other information to the Pennsylvania State Police. Any violation of the sanctions would be an additional crime and subject Dasch to further prosecution.

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.

FOUNTAIN SPRINGS — The North Schuylkill school board voted unanimously at its June 17 meeting to not participate in the land bank being formed Schuylkill County.

The meeting, which was held at the elementary school due to construction at the high school, included an agenda item to approve an “Intergovernmental Cooperation Agreement” and a “Memorandum of Understanding” regarding the participation of the school district in the land bank, an initiative of the Northern Schuylkill Council of Governments.

Within the past 12 months, many municipal governments sent letters of intent to the COG showing interest in investigating the concept of land banks without committing to becoming part of a local one.

In 2012, House Bill 1682 was approved in Harrisburg to enable municipalities in Pennsylvania to create land banks, which are local entities that can hold and manage vacant properties and direct their reuse and redevelopment. Land banks make it easier and cheaper for prospective buyers to redevelop blighted properties into homes and businesses, ultimately reversing cycles of economic decline and getting delinquent properties back on municipal tax rolls.

After the motion and second, the roll call vote was 0-9 against land bank participation.

After the meeting, board President Charles “Chaz” Hepler said there was no real need for the school district to become part of the land bank.

“I think the feeling of the board was that if it’s going to be a true community effort, why are there salaries involved,” Hepler said. “We were kind of curious as to why the municipalities that make up the school district didn’t get involved. Butler Township, which is the largest municipality in the district, is not involved in that process, just like Ringtown, Union Township, Gordon.”

Hepler added that even though the school district does not have to put $1,000 into the process like the municipalities will, there are other financial questions.

“We’re not on the hook for the $1,000, but then we have forfeit the liens, any back taxes for five years, but there is no guarantee that any money is going to be invested back into our school district,” Hepler said. “The money could be spent elsewhere in other areas of the land bank. We recognize there is blight in our communities, but would it be handled better, such as in a county program or initiative.”

In other business, the school board appointed Acting Elementary Principal Margaret “Maggie” Manofsky as the elementary principal, effective July 1.

In April, the school board appointed Manofsky, who was then the assistant elementary principal, as the acting elementary principal following the resignation of Elementary Principal Neall R. Jones, who accepted a principal position in Florida. The position was effective for the remainder of the 2014-15 school year.

Manofsky was hired as the assistant secondary principal in 2011 after coming from the Benton School District, and moved into the assistant elementary principal position at the beginning of the current school year.

Manofsky’s starting salary will be $80,645. In a related move, the school board also appointed Janel Hansbury as assistant elementary principal at a starting salary of $65,000, effective July 1.

The Employees of the Quarter are kindergarten co-teacher Alicia Jones and maintenance department employee Lonnie Carl. The employee honors were announced by Assistant Supervisor of Special Education Ashley Palubinsky and Director of Buildings and Grounds/Transportation Frank Brennan, respectively.

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

· Awarded the bid on gasoline for the 2015-16 school year to Central Highway Oil Company, Frackville, at the fluctuating price of $0.128 per gallon over the terminal price.

· Awarded the bid for diesel fuel for the 2015-16 school year to Central Highway Oil Company at the fixed price of $2.254 per gallon.

· Acknowledged the graduation of the Class of 2015, which was held May 29.

· Elected Raymond Reichwein as board treasurer in a 6-3 vote. The other nominee was Roy Green. In the roll call vote, Reichwein voted for Green, while Green voted for Reichwein.

The next school board committee meeting will be 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 12. The next regular meeting will be at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 19. Both meetings are expected to be held at the elementary school cafeteria. Unless a special meeting is needed, the school board will not meet in July.

Part of it was a 19th century stone arch, Timothy R. Yingling, the sewer authority’s executive director, said at the GPASA’s June meeting at its offices at city hall Wednesday night.

Dallago’s Backhoe Service, Minersville, responded to the emergency and repaired the area, at a cost of $31,187.80, Yingling said.

“We replaced a 14-foot-long section with a 30-inch diameter pipe,” Yingling said.

The authority is still waiting for a bill from the contractor that repaved the street, Tropp Contracting Inc., Pottsville.

In other matters at the GPASA meeting Wednesday, the authority’s engineer Tom Schreffler, a consulting engineer with Light-Heigel & Associates Inc., Schuylkill Haven, offered an update on the authority’s plan to end the sewer hookup moratorium that has haunted its service area since 1990.

“Regarding the Corrective Action Plan, we have received flow data from Mr. Rehab Inc. The data reflects the several rain storms that occurred in May and June, and we therefore recommend removing the flow meters,” Schreffler said in his report.

He was referring to Stage I of the plan, an investigation and evaluation of the West End Collection System, the Mount Carbon Borough Collection System and the Mahantongo Street, city of Pottsville, Collection System.

Schreffler’s plan required the authority to install flow meters in 11 locations, seven in the West End, three in Mount Carbon and one at Second and Mahantongo streets in Pottsville. Light-Heigel hired Mr. Rehab Inc., Mechanicsburg, to install those in early May.

“In related items, we have completed the majority of field reconnaissance, to determine the EDUs (equivalent dwelling units) in each sub-basin,” Schreffler said.

The public can view the Corrective Action Plan — a 13-page strategy with reference material including maps — by visiting the GPASA offices on the third floor of city hall. The public comment period will continue until July 3.

“If no public comments are made and we receive resolutions from North Manheim Township, the Borough of Mount Carbon and the city of Pottsville, the Corrective Action Plan can be sent to the state Department of Environmental Protection,” Schreffler said.

Ian H. Lipton, the GPASA chairman, asked questions about progress, determined to lift the state moratorium.

“My question is, have we continued to ask those municipalities, those entities, for those resolutions?” Lipton asked.

“Unequivocally. I talked to their solicitors,” Schreffler said.

“And?” Lipton asked.

“They’re good to go,” Schreffler said.

“Good. We just want to make sure. If we have go in with guns blazing, then we’ll do that,” Lipton said. “ ... We want those EDUs,” Lipton said.

“I haven’t heard anything as far as public comments. I’m sure if Tim did, he’d be the first to let me know,” Schreffler said.

Boy hit by car,

flown to hospital

A 7-year-old Pottsville boy suffered a head injury when he was struck by a car in the 700 block of North Centre Street in the city Tuesday night, city police said Wednesday.

Schuylkill EMS transported the juvenile, who police did not name, to the helipad on Lawton’s Hill, and the boy was flown by MedEvac to Lehigh Valley Hospital for precautionary evaluation and medical treatment, police said.

The incident occurred at 8:06 p.m. Tuesday when, according to witnesses, the boy darted across the street without stopping to check for traffic. A southbound 2015 Dodge Dart driven by a 21-year-old man from Saint Clair hit the boy. The boy was conscious when police arrived. His head was bleeding and he was cared for by his mother until local emergency responders arrived.

Police: City man

harmed girlfriend

Pottsville police recently charged a man from the city with physically assaulting his girlfriend and threatening her with a knife, police said Tuesday.

On June 18, police charged Albert Zettlemoyer, 24, with simple assault and arraigned before on-duty Magisterial District Judge Anthony J. Kilker, Shenandoah. Zettlemoyer was placed in county prison, police said.

Zettlemoyer was still incarcerated there Wednesday night, on $7,500 straight bail, according to a prison spokesman.

At 8:30 p.m. June 18, city police responded to a report of domestic violence at 320 W. Market St. Zettlemoyer fled the residence before police arrived, police said.

Police learned Zettlemoyer had assaulted his 19-year-old girlfriend by punching and kicking her and threatening her with a knife. The woman suffered minor injuries and was transported by ambulance to Schuylkill Medical Center-South Jackson Street, Pottsville, for evaluation, police said.

Zettlemoyer was arrested the night of June 18, arraigned and jailed.

Shenandoah man

faces drug charge

HAMBURG — State police at Hamburg charged a Shenandoah man with possession of 150 grams of marijuana in Berks County early Wednesday.

When police conducted a traffic stop on a blue 2003 Dodge Caravan at 1:10 a.m. on Interstate 78 west at the off-ramp for Route 61 north in Tilden Township, they discovered the passenger in the back seat, Teddy Anthony Gaston, 29, of Shenandoah, was carrying illegal drugs, police said Wednesday.

Gaston was carrying a baggie containing two other bags, one containing 30 grams of marijuana and the other containing 120 grams of marijuana. He was also in possession of 14 metal razor blades, police said.

Charges of drug possession were filed in the office of Magisterial District Judge Kim L. Bagenstose, Hamburg.

Woman accuses

man of stalking

City police charged a man with violating a protection from abuse order Tuesday, and the man was placed in county prison in lieu of $10,000 percentage bail, police said Wednesday.

Adam R. Drobnick, 30, of Pottsville, was charged with numerous PFA violations, according to police Chief Richard F. Wojciechowsky.

At 8:13 a.m. Tuesday, police received a complaint from the victim, a 27-year-old woman from Pottsville, who said Drobnick was her estranged husband. While she was driving to work on the 300 block of West Norwegian Street, she was being pursued by Drobnick, who was driving a gray Nissan truck, police said.

He followed her to her workplace and parked 30 feet from the front door. As she called 9-1-1, he fled the area, police said.

While police were speaking to the victim, she received several text messages from Drobnick, which is also a violation of the PFA that prohibited contact of any kind, police said.

Police arrested Drobnick near his residence at 35 Hillside Road and he was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge James K. Reiley.

Police: Fight led

to icy retaliation

CRESSONA — State police at Schuylkill Haven charged a borough man with harassment after he had an argument with a woman from the borough and poured iced tea on her, police said Wednesday.

The incident occurred at 1:10 p.m. Tuesday at 112 Pottsville St., Apt. 1, when Derek Mountz, 31, poured the drink onto Dana Davis, 31, police said.

Charges will be filed in the office of Magisterial District Judge James R. Ferrier, Orwigsburg.

No injuries in

rig, minivan crash

PINE GROVE — Three people from out-of-state escaped injury Monday in a two-vehicle accident in Pine Grove Township, state police at Jonestown said.

The accident occurred at 11:10 a.m. on Interstate 81 in the northbound lane, and in a construction zone, just south of exit 104, police said.

David A. Murphy, 47, of Perth, Ontario, was driving a 2004 Columbia Freightliner when traffic stopped abruptly at mile marker 103.6.

To avoid hitting the vehicle in front of him — a 2009 Toyota Sienna driven by Donald L. Towns, 80, of Naples, Fla. — Murphy steered to the right toward the shoulder, hit the guide rail with the truck’s right front bumper. But the liquid he was transporting surged forward, continuing the vehicle’s momentum. The guide rail then caused the rig to swerve.

The truck’s left side step and the trailer’s left front fender hit the right, rear end and right, rear quarter panel of Towns’ vehicle, causing disabling damage. The vehicle also sustained damage to its rear window and right rear tire. Murphy’s tractor-trailer sustained minor damage, police said.

Towns’ vehicle had to be towed. Murphy was charged with speeding.

2 car tires slashed

in Port Carbon

PORT CARBON — State police at Schuylkill Haven are looking for the vandal who slashed two tires on a vehicle parked along the 200 block of Third Street between Monday night and Tuesday morning, state police said Wednesday.

The incident occurred in the area of 234 Third St. The vehicle, a gold 2002 Subaru Forester, is owned by Sherry Borrell, Port Carbon. The passenger-side tires had been slashed, police said.

Anyone with information is asked to call state police at 570-739-1330.

Cass Twp. man

faces gun charges

State police in Frackville recently arrested a Cass Township man for illegally possessing multiple firearms.

A pursuit and vehicle crash occurred between 4 p.m. March 7 and 2 a.m. March 8 in Saint Clair, police said. David Albert Flynn, 50, of 230 High Road, was taken into custody by state police for DUI and related charges and was also found to be a person not to possess a firearm. Police discovered evidence on scene that indicated Flynn likely had multiple firearms.

Police launched an investigation into the matter.

Flynn was later found to own approximately 20 illegal firearms, including assault-style rifles, hunting rifles, shotguns and handguns. The firearms, as well as marijuana and drug paraphernalia, were seized, police said.

On June 13, Flynn was arrested at his residence and charged with multiple counts of a person not to possess a firearm and possession of marijuana with intent to deliver, according to police. He was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge David J. Rossi, Tremont, and released on $50,000 bail.

A preliminary hearing before Rossi is scheduled for July at district court.