PITMAN — The Creek Road bridge over the Mahantango Creek in the village of Haas in Eldred Township will be closed to traffic starting next week.

A sign at the entrance to the bridge on Route 4039 in Eldred Township says the road will be closed for construction starting Wednesday. The bridge will be replaced with a concrete box beam bridge, Dan Galvin, public information manager with Plenary Walsh Keystone Partners, Harrisburg, said Thursday. The bridge was constructed in 1915 and averages 286 vehicles per day. Traffic will be detoured to Taylorsville Mountain and Snyder roads during the bridge construction. The detour should be in effect until late August when the majority of the work is completed, Galvin said.

The bridge is one of seven that will be replaced in the county as part of the Rapid Bridge Replacement Project, a joint effort between the state Department of Transportation and Plenary Walsh Keystone Partners. Six of the seven bridges are slated for replacement this year. The public-private partnership aims to fix the structurally deficient bridges in Pennsylvania, of which there are about 4,200 in the state. Such a bridge has deterioration that affects one or more of the major components of the bridge but does not mean the bridge is unsafe, according to PennDOT. The program will replace 558 structurally deficient bridges in the state. Former Gov. Tom Corbett signed the P3 law in 2012, which provides for collaboration between public and private entities for transportation projects in Pennsylvania.

Northeast Prestressed Products LLC, Cressona, is suppling the beams for the project.

The bridges chosen for the program were screened by PennDOT. Those selected were mostly small bridges, according to PennDOT. Plenary Walsh Keystone Partners will manage the design of the bridge, its construction and maintenance for 25 years after its completion. It will also pay costs for the project, which will then be reimbursed by PennDOT. PennDOT will own the bridges and is still responsible for routine maintenance such as snow removal.

The Route 339/Catawissa Creek Road bridge over the Catawissa Creek in the village of Zion Grove in North Union Township was slated for replacement this month but that work is delayed due to barn swallows nesting on the bridge.

“We’re holding off on that until the birds leave,” Galvin said.

A sign near the bridge said the road is going to be closed starting July 15; however, Galvin said it could be July 20 or later until work starts to replace the concrete bridge. Federal environmental regulations say they cannot disturb nesting wildlife. A neighbor noticed the birds and called PennDOT, he said.

“As long as there are eggs or fledglings (young birds), you have to hold off,” he said.

The bridge was built in 1924. On average, 626 vehicles travel the bridge daily. Traffic will be detoured to Red Light Road and Buck Mountain Road until necessary for the work. Completion could be finished by October, depending on the length of delay.

Five other bridges are slated for replacement as part of the project:

• Village of Klingerstown on Route 4016 over the Mahantango Creek. Start date possibly this month with projected completion in September.

• About 3/4 of a mile east of Columbia County on Route 4036 crossing Trexler Run. Start date about September with projected completion in November.

• Catawissa Creek Road on Route 339 crossing the tributary to Catawissa Creek. Start date about September with completion in late October or November.

• Catawissa Creek Road on Route 339 crossing the Catawissa Creek. Start date is September with projected completion in November.

• South Shenandoah on Route 924 going into the borough. Start date about March 2016 with projected completion in November 2016. One lane of traffic will be open on the bridge as work is being done, Galvin said.

New Haven

Shelby Sattizahn, Pine Grove, made the dean’s list at the University of New Haven for the spring semester.

Susquehanna

Ryan Bertsch, Pottsville, a freshman finance/accounting major at Susquehanna University, Selinsgrove, was named to the dean’s list for the spring semester.

A 2014 graduate of Pottsville Area High School, he is a son of Hal and Karen Bertsch, Pottsville.

The Citadel

Madyson S. Riegel, Schuylkill Haven, was awarded Gold Stars by The Citadel, Charleston, N.C., for earning a grade point average of 3.7 or higher during the spring semester.

Wilkes

The following local students were named to the dean’s list at Wilkes University, Wilkes-Barre, for the spring semester:

Dana Achenbach, Frackville; Tyler Bartol, Auburn; Devon Bashore, Schuylkill Haven; Lacey Bixler, Williamstown; Amanda Boyer, Girardville; Joshua Brown, Hamburg; Jeanne Cannon, Coaldale; Ryan Cicioni, Frackville; Samantha Davidson, Shenandoah; Stephen Dziedziak, Shenandoah; Timothy East, Schuylkill Haven; Marissa Elliott, Frackville; Emily Foster, Schuylkill Haven; Molly Hinkel, Auburn; Laykin Hughes, Pottsville; Elizabeth Jensolowsky, Ringtown; Meghan Kisela, Schuylkill Haven; Seth Kunkel, Hamburg; Michael Litwak, Minersville; Grace Lorence, Cumbola; Sierra Marsh, Auburn; Courtney Matina, Pottsville; Sarah Metzinger, Ashland; Jenna Michaels, Barnesville; Courtney Moyer, Pottsville; Jordan Mroczka, Mahanoy City; Shana Noon, Mahanoy City; Jennafer Possessky, Ringtown; Megan Powers, Pottsville; Annelise Przywara, Pottsville; Kristen Reinoehl, Ringtown; Anthony Richards, Tamaqua; Robert Schappell, Pottsville; Matthew Seltzer, Schuylkill Haven; Makia Stocker, Andreas; Zachary Sullivan, Pottsville; Kate Thomas, Schuylkill Haven; Shelby Trumbo, Landingville; Christine Trusky, Hegins; Brandon Whiteash, Pottsville; Brittany Wills, Orwigsburg; Rachel Wood, Pottsville.

Lebanon Valley

The following local students attained dean’s list status at Lebanon Valley College, Annville, for the spring semester:

Brittany Dierwechter, Hamburg; Connor DeStefano, Minersville; Joseph Swartz, Mahanoy City; Joshua Bishop, Schuylkill Haven; Alyssa Keich, Tamaqua; Kiely Chaklos, Frackville; Taylor Gerchak, Pottsville; Steven Christ, Tamaqua; Christie Sborz, Pottsville; Brody Lipsett, Pottsville; Nicholas Harman, Hegins; Jeffrey Bates, Pine Grove; Kelsey Patrick, Tamaqua; Kristina Kelly, Shenandoah; Corrine Frederick, Schuylkill Haven; Tori Stramara, Pottsville; Brian Murphy, Schuylkill Haven; John Johnston, Pottsville; Phillip Dohner, Schuylkill Haven; Mark Swokel, Barnesville; Miranda Milillo, Tamaqua; Derrick Reed, Locustdale; Clarissa Shoffler, Gordon; Kyler Burke, Pine Grove; Alison Semanchik, Shenandoah; Clayton Williard, Klingerstown; Justin Mengel, Hamburg; Zackery Tidmore, Orwigsburg; Kaylin Ryan, Tremont; Lindsey Pukas, Pottsville; Rebecca Sausser, Schuylkill Haven; Rhys Watkins, Port Carbon; Amy Karnes, Auburn; Michael Wirtz, Mahanoy City; Brooke Felty, Schuylkill Haven; Meghan Boran, Pottsville; Nicholas Muench, Pottsville; Anne Swokel, Barnesville; Michael Halcovage, Pottsville; Jeanette Tropp, Pottsville; Whittni Reisch, Lykens; Lauran Deibert, Klingerstown; Corey Kuchinsky, Orwigsburg; Jonathan Snyder, Pitman; Jared McCabe, Donaldson; Christine Ware, Ringtown; Audrey Reiley, Auburn.

Kutztown

The following local residents were among the more than 1,700 students who were named to the spring dean’s list at Kutztown University:

Leah G. Andrefski, Orwigsburg; Dana B. Ansbach, Tamaqua; Emily T. Ash, Schuylkill Haven; Emily M. Becker and Lynda M. Boulden, both of Hamburg; Brandon M. Bridy, Pottsville; Erin R. Byerly and Taylor M. Charles, both of Schuylkill Haven; Katelyn M. Ciccozzi and Brittany L. Clouser, both of Tamaqua; Christopher Cooper, Port Carbon; Jennifer L. Cresswell, Schuylkill Haven; Brianne N. Curvey, Brockton; Karissa A. Deitrich, Elizabethville; Nathaniel M. Dietrich and Zachary L. Dixon, both of Pottsville; Jillian Dove, Shenandoah; Andrew Faust, Barnesville; Kristen Fessler, Pine Grove; Kristen Florio, Shenandoah; Benjamin M. Forbes, Orwigsburg; Mackenzie L. Francis, Auburn; Letecia M. Garcia, Pottsville; Chelsea E. Gassert, New Ringgold; Taryn J. Gehman, Auburn; Adelen N. Geiger, Schuylkill Haven; Tanya H. Halupa, Frackville; Kellylynn Hammer, Minersville; Lindsay M. Hand, Saint Clair; Gregory A. Haney, Pottsville; Alyssa M. Heim, New Ringgold; Joshua J. Herring, Saint Clair; Jamie Hlavinka, Hamburg; Jill M. Hoppes, Tamaqua; Christopher R. Huegel, Middleport; Justin D. Imbody, New Ringgold; Elizabeth I. Kerns, Orwigsburg; Margaret S. Kiefer, Ringtown; Zackary D. King, Coaldale; Nicole M. Klinger, Tower City; Samantha L. Koons, Saint Clair; Derek J. Kovach, Frackville; Bethann L. Kulp, Hamburg; Gina M. Lassandro, Schuylkill Haven; Amy L. Laudeman, Ashland; Kaitlin N. Leffler, Pottsville; Catherine J. Mahony, Hamburg; Sheryl L. McKlveen, Tamaqua; Erin L. Meehan, New Philadelphia; Kaitlynn Mervine, Pottsville; Derek W. Miller, Hamburg; Delilah R. Miske, Pottsville; Kensley P. Moyer, Orwigsburg; James O’Neill, Auburn; Michael Oswald, Hamburg; Jolene M. Pawlowski, Ringtown; Amanda J. Purcell, Pottsville; Joseph D. Ritzko, Auburn; Kylee J. Roberts, Saint Clair; Kailee N. Rottet, Tamaqua; Sara A. Saurazas, Pottsville; Kyle R. Schuetrum, Schuylkill Haven; Cortney E. Sensenig, Hamburg; Lindsey E. Sinton, Auburn; Amy M. Skotek, McAdoo; Lauren R. Smith, Schuylkill Haven; Michelle D. Smith, Hamburg; Miranda K. Smith, Pine Grove; Brett W. Smulligan, Orwigsburg; Kevin J. Sninsky, Saint Clair; Michael Sorokach, Pottsville; Samantha N. Stanish, Hamburg; Douglas A. Steffy, Schuylkill Haven; Emily A. Stemmler, New Ringgold; Allison E. Tenaglia, Frackville; Matthew D. Tothero, Schuylkill Haven; Chelsey L. Valentine, Tamaqua; David M. Wagaman, Hamburg; Scott A. Webb, Schuylkill Haven; Siera M. Wilson, Minersville; Scott P. Yagielniskie, Frackville; Zachary J. Zubris, Brockton.

Alvernia

The following local students were named to Alvernia University’s dean’s list for the spring semester:

Nina Arant, Schuylkill Haven, accounting; Jessica Bernd, Valley View, athletic training; Makayla Boyle, Tamaqua, biochemistry; Karen Breech, Tower City, behavioral health; Slade Bugajinsky, Schuylkill Haven, criminal justice; Julie Bulino, Minersville, occupational therapy; Jacquelyn Butz, Pottsville, early childhood education; Shaina Dailey, Hamburg, psychology; Morgan Drey, Cressona, criminal justice; Jolene Drust, Schuylkill Haven, behavioral health; Chelsea Duva, Hamburg, early childhood education; Rachael Eberhardt, Hamburg, occupational therapy; Leslie Eckert, Orwigsburg, behavioral health; Sarah Englert, Schuylkill Haven, occupational therapy; Lisa Falkowski, Pottsville, early childhood education; Tracy Freeman, Donaldson, accounting; Bobbi Jo Glowacki, Ashland, healthcare science; Carlee Green, Ashland, early childhood education with special education; Crystal Hallick, Cressona, early childhood education; Cassandra Hannon, Mahanoy Plane, healthcare science; Jacqueline Harris, Pottsville, accounting; Leigh Janavage, Cressona, accounting; Robert Kelly, Tamaqua, mathematics; Anissa Koperna, Schuylkill Haven, social work; Morgan Krumanocker, Schuylkill Haven, early childhood education with special education; David Lafko, Orwigsburg, business management; Maribeth Lantz, Pottsville, behavioral health; Timothy Leiter, Tower City, biochemistry; Kelly Luckenbill, Pottsville, business management; Brittany Luckenbill, Schuylkill Haven, occupational therapy; Alisha Mahoney, Hegins, healthcare science; Kerilyn Mamrosh, Schuylkill Haven, behavioral health; Heather Marx, Pottsville, business management; Jill Mataka, Ringtown, business management; Kaysi McLaughlin, Tamaqua, early childhood education with special education; Omar Munir, Pottsville, business management; Aaron Nabozny, Hamburg, criminal justicer; Riley Nabozny, Hamburg, early childhood education with special education; Tetyana Pitula, Frackville, accounting; Austen Ream, Hamburg, medical imaging; Vanessa Rinker, Gordon, behavioral health; Sandra Rivera, Pottsville, behavioral health; Judith Rodriguez, Mahanoy City, healthcare science; Corrine Ryan, Pine Grove, early childhood education; Rachel Schew, Schuylkill Haven, behavioral health; Danbrielle Shoener, Pottsville, criminal justice; Karen Sorokach, Pottsville, accounting; Amanda Stahl, Tremont, behavioral health; Erika Stone, Auburn, behavioral health; Nicholas Sturm, Hamburg, nursing; Heather Tarlecky, Schuylkill Haven, accounting; Todd Toof, Pottsville, criminal justice; Terri Zurat, Pine Grove, business administration.

PORT CARBON — Not even the rain Saturday morning could ruin the annual Fourth of July tradition in the borough known as the Baby Parade.

Despite the weather, about 125 people participated in the 68th annual parade through the borough while other residents watched from their front porches.

“It still won’t rain on our parade,” Charles Fees said before the parade kicked off.

Charles and Lynda Fees, Port Carbon, put together a small wagon float for their 4-year-old daughter, Emily, to ride during the parade.

“We have been in it since she was born,” Charles Fees said.

Lynda Fees said Emily was first in the parade at 10 months old dressed as Betsy Ross. Lynda held Emily on her lap on a rocker with an American flag. Emily now helps decorate the floats, which paid tribute to a friend retiring from the military.

There was a sign on the back of the float that read: “Thank you Port Carbon native Major Edward Everdale for 31 years of military service. Your dedication and sacrifice helped protect our freedom and for that we thank you!”

“People put their life on the line for our freedom and it’s my way of saying thanks,” Charles Fees said.

Patrick Murphy, 2, participated in his second parade riding a tank his father, Bill, made from drywall. Bill Murphy, Port Carbon, hoped his creation would survive the rainfall. He said Patrick had fun last year.

“He was a little shy at first, but then he was waving to everyone,” Murphy said.

His wife, Sandra, also carried their 2-month-old son, Keegan, in the parade.

“I wish more places did things like this,” she said.

Fourth of July festivities kicked off in the borough earlier Saturday with the Firecracker 5K, a three-mile race through the borough that started last year.

“It’s a growing tradition,” Chuck Joy, borough mayor and president of the Port Carbon Citizens Committee, said.

Joy said there were about 125 participants in the race this year. This year’s winners were Deene Reese, Ringtown, and Justin O’Brien, Hamburg.

“I was happy with the amount of people that turned out and the people supporting it by watching,” Joy said.

The parade took a shorter route than normal because of the rain. Joy said he was not surprised by the number of people braving the weather Saturday. The only parade to be canceled because of the weather was during the 2006 flood, he said.

“It’s tradition,” Joy said. “People are used to the tradition and they look forward to it. It is about community pride and spirit.”

Eagle earned

Frederick “Fritz” Miller, Orwigsburg, has attained the rank of Eagle Scout as a member of Troop 621, sponsored by Faith Church, Orwigsburg.

His Eagle project consisted of designing and installing new landscaping for the Orwigsburg borough square. When he approached Mike Lonergan, former borough manager, about a possible Eagle project in 2014, Lonergan informed Fritz that the borough wished to remove the shrubs on the square because they required constant pruning, and the size of the mature shrubs blocked a clear view of oncoming vehicular and pedestrian traffic.

With the help of Tim Hill of Season’s Art Landscaping, Fritz completed a formal scale design of low-growing evergreen shrubs and perennials to meet the borough’s need. He met with the borough council several times and received approval for a portion of his design.

The borough agreed to purchase topsoil, mulch, fertilizer and the plants. With Hill’s guidance, Miller assembled a work crew and supervised the job of preparing and improving existing soil, removing remaining root systems, creating new beds around the lampposts and seeding grass around the existing memorial stones.

Miller’s crew planted the shrubs and some perennials last fall, and finished up with the remaining plants this spring. His goal was to create an aesthetically pleasing, colorful combination of plants and flowers that coordinated with the garden installed on the site of the former Orpheum theater.

Miller joined scouting as a Tiger Cub in Pack 624 while in a first-grader at Blue Mountain Elementary East. During his scouting career, he has served various leadership positions within his troop and attended Hawk Mountain Council Scout Camp, Blue Ridge Summer Camp in Virginia, Heritage High Adventure Summer Camp in Pittsburgh, the National High Adventure Sea Base in the Bahamas, Northern Tier Base in Bissett, Manitoba, Canada, and the 100th anniversary National Jamboree at Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia with the Hawk Mountain Council.

Miller is a 2015 Blue Mountain High School graduate, where he was an honor roll student, co-captain of the boys’ soccer team and All-State Player and Player of the Year. He is traveling to Spain this month for the recently founded Marbella United Football Club and to attend classes at the American University of Spain.

Arts training

Blue Mountain High School senior Lauren Tidmore, daughter of William and Julianne Tidmore, Or-wigsburg, is spending her summer surrounded by the arts in New York City.

She will be studying singing, dancing and acting at The American Musical and Dramatic Academy, New York, and at Wagner College, Staten Island, New York, this month. Both programs were audition-based and end with a showcase displaying the materials worked on throughout the programs.

The first intensive, at the academy’s High School Summer Conservatory, began Thursday and runs through July 19 in the heart of NYC. Lauren was accepted into the dance theater program, where she will get to work with some of New York City’s top teachers and choreographers.

This intensive focuses on the current trends in dance and introduces a cross-section of styles. During the program, Lauren will get the opportunity to audition for acceptance into the academy after high school.

Upon completion of the summer conservatory, Lauren will attend Wagner College’s Summer Music Theatre Institute from July 19 to Aug. 1. The program only accepted 12 students from around the world who are serious about working on their craft.

In a two-week, on-campus intensive, students receive rigorous college-calibre training in singing, acting, improvisation and dancing that is taught in a supportive, professional environment. Students gain insights into the professional world of NYC theater through visits from industry experts and trips to Broadway productions.

Lauren accomplished this achievement with the assistance of Crystal Bartolacci of Crystal’s School of Dance, Orwigsburg, Tamara Wapinsky of The Studio for Vocal Excellence, Pottsville, and Erin and Andrew Umphrey of Artists in Motion, Schuylkill Haven.

He didn't talk much about what he saw overseas and when he died, loved ones thought his memories went with him.

Family knew him as "Dad" or "Pap-Pap" but those fighting with the Allied powers in World War II knew him as Sgt. Frank Skokoski, who served with the Office of Strategic Services, which would eventually become the Central Intelligence Agency.

Skokoski served in several missions with the group as countries fought to end Nazi control in Europe but until a recent story was published in a military journal, his family was unsure of the details of his WWII experience.

Skokoski's story is featured in "Veritas: Journal of Army Special Operations History," in a story titled "Skokoski's Journey: Service in Three WWII Special Operations Units," by Troy J. Sacquety. Based out of Fort Bragg, North Carolina, Veritas' readership is made up of current officers and veterans, Sacquety, a 10-year researcher and writer with the journal, said. The journal's main focus is to teach current soldiers about military history and it's available primarily through subscription and at some libraries.

Sacquety interviewed Skokoski Oct. 28, 2008, and Skokoski has since passed away, not able to see the final product, but his family believes that's the way he would want it anyway.

He was proud to serve his country but also humble about his experiences there.

His son and namesake Frank Skokoski Jr. said his dad would talk - albeit briefly - about his service, telling him that he blew up bridges in Europe and parachuted as part of his service. He also said he threw away military-issued cyanide pills in the coal stripping pits by his home in Crystal Ridge after returning from the war.

Other than those few stories and clues from memorabilia, the family, up until the journal story was published, didn't know the details of their father's young life in the military.

"He was a hero. He is my dad. He is a hero regardless of what he did because of what he taught me throughout my life, but he really impressed that he didn't think it was something to glorify (his military service)," Skokoski Jr. said. He said all his dad would really convey was that he was just doing his job.

Memories

Born in 1924 in the Hazleton area, the majority of his life spanned a half-mile radius, having lived in the Green Ridge and Crystal Ridge sections of Hazle Township. At home, Skokoski Sr. spoke in his parent's native Polish, although he conversed in English elsewhere and those bilingual skills would advance him to the OSS missions later in life.

He enlisted in the Army after graduating high school in 1942 and was first a medic in the 79th Infantry Division before joining the 541st Parachute Infantry Regiment at Camp Mackall, North Carolina, and left the 541st in 1944 and was sent to Ireland as an airborne replacement, the story states.

It was there OSS recruiters asked him to join them behind the lines after finding out he spoke Polish, Sacquety wrote. Upon being questioned in London, Skokoski Sr. was an OSS member.

"They took us to London where a whole bunch of [uniformed] English and Polish officers questioned you," the story quotes Skokoski Sr. as saying.

They needed Polish speakers to perform a mission under the BARDSEA Project, according to the story. The OSS, the then-exiled Polish government and the British all played roles in the project that aimed to organize Polish people living in France into resistance groups.

The OSS BARDSEA group was made up of three five-man groups and Skokoski Sr. was assigned to a group called DACHET, Saquety said. The men were trained in demolition, communication, German weapons, French geography, compass and map reading, Morse code and parachuting.

But his team never deployed, reportedly due to the Allied armies' advancement in France, although Skokoski Sr. said the mission was stopped because of a hard rain, according to the journal. Sacquety wrote that his mission was called off four hours before its launch in September 1944.

Skokoski Sr. and most of his fellow BARDSEA operatives were transferred to the Operational Groups Branch, which functioned within the OSS and served as a separate uniformed military group. They were active in combat operations in German-occupied France.

Skokoski Sr. was among the OGs who parachuted into France on Sept. 9, 1944. German forces were losing their hold on the country and ADRIAN was poised to target the retreating enemy, preventing their escape, the story states.

Skokoski Sr. and 31 members of the OG team boarded seven B-24 Liberator bombers and were dropped in the Côte d'Or area but a war death occurred before their feet hit the ground. ADRIAN commanding officer Capt. Joseph J. Kielbowicz, who was the first out of the bomber, was killed by a falling mortar canister, mid-air, the story states.

Mortars exploded and caught the container and his parachute on fire and three others were injured. However, the group went on to fulfill its mission and once it was completed, Skokoski Sr. became part of the Special Allied Airborne Reconnaissance Force, a relief effort to protect Allied prisoners of war in German camps.

They were to parachute near prisoner-of-war camps, Sacquety wrote, then radio for medical and nutritional needs for them. But their services were again not needed and Skokoski Sr. was not deployed.

Finding the story

Sacquety found out about Skokoski Sr.'s service through a network of other OSS researchers. Having already planned a trip to Philadelphia in October 2008 for another research piece on an OSS service member, Sacquety set up his interview with Skokoski Sr., driving the roughly two-hour trip to his home from Philadelphia in a snowstorm.

His interview with Skokoski Sr. turned out to be a learning experience, Sacquety said. He said he knew he was in the operation group ADRIAN but didn't know about the BARDSEA group. He said there is not much history available on the groups possibly because of the confusion surrounding it, "a Polish speaking group formed to jump into occupied France to work with Polish expatriates in the (coal) mines," Sacquety said in one breath.

Sacquety found himself researching a lot of information with help from other researchers, including one in Britain.

He said any historical research project is a lot of work, "especially if you're doing it right." The problem with history today is people's access to Internet sites such as Wikipedia, where unsubstantiated stories may be passed off as factual historical text.

At some point, he said, the research involved in his journal stories can get tedious, but its a sacred part of his job and profession as a U.S. Army Special Operations Command historian.

Skokoski Sr.'s family was gracious to Sacquety as he researched and asked them follow-up questions.

"That's what makes my job a lot easier. It makes the story come to life," Sacquety said of involving veterans and their families in interviews. "I'm the author, but this is not my story."

History pieces such as Skokoski Sr.'s require a lot of time researching and while juggling research on his story, Sacquety was working on five to seven others, which accounts for the time between the interview and publication.

It's engaging work, too. Sacquety said although modern special operations can trace to World War I, it was in World War II where the military started doing a lot of the special projects like the ones Skokoski Sr. was involved in.

What was interesting about Frank's story was he was a member of three "fairly obscure" projects and for historians, their curiosity peaks. The OSS, he said, disbanded in 1945 and although remnants of it survived and went through name changes, eventually the OSS became the CIA through the National Security Act in 1947.

Ten years after the CIA formation, Skokoski Sr. was stateside marrying his wife, Marie, and starting his family.

Skokoski Jr., remembered his father as a peaceful, kind man who imparted his love and wisdom of nature and animals to his children, along with a great love for classical literature and music.

Although he never went to college himself, he insisted his children attend. Skokoski Sr. worked at the Standard-Speaker beginning in 1964 and retired in 1989 from the circulation department, his son said.

He died in October 2013 from heart failure and although he never saw the finished article, Skokoski Jr. said that's probably the way he would want it. At the time of his death, at 89, the only real time he talked about his service at length, was to Sacquety.

"That's the kind of thing that makes the job worthwhile, telling the story. One of the purposes of being an historian is telling the stories that were never told," Sacquety said. "Frank's story was a perfect example" of that, he said.

His family may have never known he was in these units, as he was so humble that he felt uncomfortable talking about it for years. Sacquety said because of that he imagines the Skokoski's neighbors probably had no idea about what he did in World War II either.

In a way, Skokoski Jr. believed his father would be unsettled by reading the story and reliving the events. He said he didn't think his dad was ever proud of what he had to do.

His grandson, Charlie DeCosmo, agreed, stating that as an elementary school student he tried to get his grandfather to talk about it, to no avail.

Upon reading the story, DeCosmo said he got goosebumps, because of the activity he was involved in. Today, DeCosmo said, he believes his grandfather is glad that the family knows.

"It's really amazing," Skokoski Jr. said.

MAHANOY CITY — The Mahanoy Area school board approved a few changes to the student dress code policy to make purchasing the attire easier for parents.

The school board discussed the matter at its June 25 meeting after board member Daniel Lynch asked about the restrictions on shoes, colors and patterns on shirts. The dress code for students went into effect at the start of the 2011-12 school year.

“I don’t see them as being disruptive in the classrooms,” Lynch said. “Principals may have another opinion.”

Lynch looked at middle school Principal Michael Heater, who was wearing a striped polo shirt, and said, “That shirt you’re wearing right there. I don’t see where that would be a problem.”

Heater said, “I think we have to be careful at our end how many changes we make at once. Last year, we looked at logos. If you had a little ‘Nike’ thing, what’s the big deal? This year my faculty looked at shoe color.”

High school Principal Thomas Smith agreed with the idea that changes, if agreed to, should be limited.

“If we make five changes with the dress code, then we’ll lose the integrity of the dress code,” Smith said.

Board member Michael Mistishen said an important aspect of the dress code is how it is being interpreted.

“The feedback that I’ve been getting is that a lot of different teachers have a lot of different understandings of the dress code,” he said. “Some things are OK with some teachers and not OK with other teachers.”

Board secretary Nancy Boyle said shopping for her great-granddaughter does have its difficulties when looking for colors in shirts. The dress code required that solid color shirts can only be in black, white, grey, tan, beige, brown or shades of gold and yellow.

“I find it hard to get her the different colors, but, believe it or not, navy blue is an easy color to find, and, of course, I can’t use it,” Boyle said.

District Superintendent Joie L. Green said changes should be limited.

“If we make changes, we do it with one, like if we go with colors, you can wear any solid color polo shirt,” Green said. “Then maybe next year we can look at stripes, but then we would have to say what kind of stripes. We have to define it.”

The board did not vote on the changes, the consensus was to allow them.

After the meeting, Green said the parents will be contacted about the changes.

“We’ll have a call go out with all the updated information,” Green said.

While polo shirts must be one color, shoes are a different matter.

“Shoes can be any color because you can’t primarily tell,” Green said. An example would be shoes that are black and white or a mixture of other colors.

“Socks also can be any color,” she said.

Univ. of Phoenix

Erik G. Seidel, a former Frackville resident, graduated with highest distinction with a 3.97 GPA from the University of Phoenix with a master’s degree in business administration.

He graduated from North Schuylkill High School in 1998 and Penn State University in 2001 with a bachelor’s degree in professional accountancy.

He is employed as director of Financial Planning & Analysis for the Geisinger Health Plan, Danville, and is also the director of music and organist/pianist at Mother Cabrini Roman Catholic Church, Shamokin.

Erik is a son of Gregg and Joanne Seidel, Frackville. He resides in Shamokin with his wife, Jennifer, and three daughters, Maggie, Claudia and Eliana.

Keystone

Brittany Ann Rosas, Mahanoy City, earned a bachelor’s degree from Keystone College, La Plume, on May 16.

Wilkes

Courtney N. Matina, Pottsville, graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Wilkes University, Wilkes-Barre, on May 16.

She was inducted into the Sigma Theta Tau National Nursing Honor Society. She has made the dean’s list every semester since her freshman year with a 3.6 GPA or higher.

Courtney has accepted a position in the Neuroscience Intensive Care Unit, Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest, Allentown.

She is a daughter of Joseph and Joanne Matina, Pottsville.

Temple

Erica Ferraiolo graduated summa cum laude May 7 from Temple University, Philadelphia, with a bachelor’s degree in speech, language and hearing science and a healthcare management minor.

Erica will pursue her master’s degree in speech, language and hearing science this fall at Temple.

A 2011 graduate of North Schuylkill High School, Erica is a daughter of Dave and Donna Ferraiolo, Ashland, and a granddaughter of Bruce and Janice Neumeister, Ashland and MaryAnn Horn, Orwigsburg.

Shippensburg

Ciara R. Mateyak, Mahanoy City, graduated magna cum laude from Shippensburg University on May 9 with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a minor in biology.

She is a member of the Psi Chi International Honor Society in Psychology and made the dean’s list for the spring semester with a 3.8 GPA.

A 2011 graduate of Marian High School, Ciara is a daughter of Tammy Casserly, Mahanoy City, and the late Chad Mateyak, formerly of Tamaqua, and a granddaughter of Louise Casserly, Mahanoy City, and Sally and Charles Mateyak, Tamaqua.

BRANCHDALE — Schuylkill County Crime Stoppers and state police at Schuylkill Haven are asking for the public’s help in finding the person responsible for a burglary that occurred last month.

Police said the crime occurred about 2:45 p.m. June 15 at 140 State Road in this Branch Township community.

Police said they were called to the home for a report of a burglary in progress and learned the person responsible fled into a wooded area.

Police said Bernard Poda reported leaving his pickup truck on the property the week before and arrived that day to find a person loading scrap metal from his barn into the bed of a spray-painted black Dodge.

Looking closer, Poda said, he realized the vehicle was actually his truck and that the person had painted it black and also stole a license plate off a Chevrolet truck he had on the property to put it on the spray-painted vehicle.

Schuylkill County Crime Stoppers will pay up to $1,000 for information on the identity of the person responsible for this crime or on any unsolved crime in Schuylkill County. Callers are asked to refer to incident 7-06-15 when calling with information about the burglary in Branch Township. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers, toll-free, at 877-TIPS4SC (877-847-7472). Individuals with information on this case can also call state police at Schuylkill Haven directly at 570-739-1330.

All information received will remain confidential.

LOYALTON — Only a handful of citizens and school board directors attended a “tax swap” hearing June 25 in the Upper Dauphin Area School District.

At issue is whether the board should adopt a resolution which would place a referendum question on the Nov. 3 ballot. That referendum, if approved by the electorate, would eliminate the occupation tax and replace it by increasing the rate of the earned income tax collected. When the question was posed last fall, voters rejected the measure by a small margin.

“This has been on the ballot before. It’s very degrading to a voter to put it on again,” Pastor Robert L. Straub told the board. “You’re going to see more foreclosures. You’re pushing people out. The income is not going up,” he said. Robert Straub was one of five members from the public present.

Four of the board’s nine directors attended the hearing — President David Barder, Roni Mace, Kathryn Talhelm and Steven Welker. Board members Mills Eure, Jack Laudenslager, Angela Mattern, the Rev. Nathan Minnich and board Vice President Gerald Wiest were absent. The school board is expected to take action on the proposed referendum resolution at 7 p.m. July 14.

Fairness

Robin Straub also spoke up during the hearing. He said he was concerned about the fairness of the tax swap measure.

“Is it really fair to have someone pay zero, and make someone else pay 2 and 1/2 times more?” he asked.

Robin Straub said he believed, if passed, the tax swap would hurt the two-wage earner family the most — those with an income range of $70,000 to $90,000 would bear the brunt, he said.

“Thanks for hearing us out,” Robin Straub told the board.

Hear us

Meanwhile, Rick Stence was disappointed with the turnout.

“It saddens me that the majority of the board does not want to hear what we had to say,” Stence said, who also serves as a Washington Township supervisor. “That tells me the board’s mind is already made up. Have you all decided?”

“I’m against it,” Welker replied. “It was voted down by the people and that was my main reason for being against it.”

No other board members expressed how they expected to vote.

Superintendent Evan P. Williams told the audience that this was only the second time since he’s been at the helm that there weren’t enough board directors for a quorum, and that there were valid reasons why some board members were absent. Williams confirmed that the hearing could be held, despite there only being four directors present.

Stence thanked those directors who did attend and offered his thoughts on the matter.

He said he thought the tax swap idea would pit people having less income against people of greater income. As citizens age, their income often increases and they’re the ones who probably don’t have kids in school anymore, he noted. Stence also said the tax swap would become an income-based system, which is more variable. He said citizens may move in and out of the district, or the wealthier residents may move to another district where they’d be taxed less.

Stence said the board should consider doing something else, perhaps try to get a law passed so that the occupation tax could also be taken out of payroll - so much every week, to streamline the collection method.

“We’re open to suggestions if you can help us find a way to save money,” Barder said.

He explained the district has been very frugal, noting $1.2 to $1.3 million had been cut from the budget within the last two years. Barder said the costs of retirement and health care have gone up, and the district would prefer not to cut any current programs for students such as sports, band or Future Farmers of America (FFA).

Re-visit referendum

When asked why the board would consider re-visiting the referendum, Barder said a lot of people still had questions, were confused, or didn’t know anything about it. According to Barder, districts that have adopted the tax swap like it, and it’s a cleaner way of collection.

Barder said Upper Dauphin had fliers out, had someone attend a few municipal meetings, and put information in the local newspapers, but there still appeared to be a lack of information getting out to the public the first time the swap was proposed.

According to background information supplied by the district and printed previously in The Citizen-Standard, the Optional Occupation Tax Elimination Act, Act 24 of 2001, as amended, permits a school district to eliminate the occupation tax and replace the occupation tax revenues by increasing the rate of the earned income tax collected by the school district. Prior to adopting such a resolution, the school district is required to hold a public hearing and advertise the date the resolution is to be considered.

Last fall, the ballot question was this: “Do you favor eliminating the Upper Dauphin Area School District’s $250 occupation tax by increasing the rate of the School District’s earned income tax from .5 percent to a maximum of 1.1 percent?”

According to The Citizen-Standard archives, voters cast 1121 “no” votes to 1068 “yes” votes, in unofficial results. Since the measure was rejected, the current taxing method remained in place.

Williams outlined the following details about the tax swap:

· It is a swap - the district would exchange the Occupation Tax of $250 for an Earned Income Tax.

· According to the formula in the law, the district calculated the Earned Income Tax could increase by .6% to yield an equivalent to the Occupation Tax.

· If passed by referendum, the .6% increase would go into effect for the 2016-17 school year.

· If approved, .6% is the maximum amount and cannot be changed without another referendum.

· Presently, the local Earned Income Tax is 1% - .5% goes to the school district and .5% to the local municipality.

· The Tax Swap would eliminate the Occupation Tax of $250 and increase the local Earned Income Tax to 1.6%. The Tax Swap would not eliminate the small, per capita taxes.

· People who are presently exonerated would only pay tax on earned income - someone with $2,000 earned income would pay 1.6% local tax on that money, or $32.

· A retiree with no earned income would pay nothing.

· Presently, the Occupation Tax is billed yearly. The Earned Income Tax would be levied as a payroll deduction.

· For someone making $42,000 earned income, under this Tax Swap, that person’s tax would be .016 multiplied by $42,000 or $672 - $252 more than the previous year, or about the same amount as the Occupation Tax.

· Someone making more than $42,000 would pay a higher amount than the previous $250.

· Someone making less than $42,000 would pay less than the previous $250.

· Unlike the Occupation Tax, the Earned Income Tax would be deductible on federal income tax returns, if the taxpayer itemizes deductions.

Citation

In other matters, Williams announced that the district received a citation from State Sen. Rob Teplitz, D-15, celebrating the district’s 50th anniversary. The award was on display during tax swap hearing in Loyalton.

ASHLAND — The first weekend Mass was celebrated in St. Charles Borromeo Roman Catholic Church and included the installation of the Rev. John W. Bambrick as the new pastor.

Formerly St. Joseph Church, the large church on Walnut Street, Ashland, became home on July 1 for St. Charles Borromeo Parish, the newly formed parish created through the merger of five churches: St. Joseph and St. Mauritius in Ashland, St. Joseph and St. Vincent de Paul in Girardville, and Our Lady of Good Counsel in Gordon. St. Charles Borromeo, who is patron saint of catechists, catechumens and seminarians, is the patron of the new parish. The merged parish includes St. Vincent Church as a sacred worship center on Sunday for Mass.

Bambrick had been pastor of the Ashland and Gordon churches. The Rev. Edward B. Connolly was pastor of the Girardville until July 1, when he retired as a pastor.

The first Mass, which was offered for all parishioners, began with a procession up the center aisle to the sanctuary that included Monsignor William F. Glosser, dean of the Schuylkill Deanery of the Diocese of Allentown and pastor of St. Clare of Assisi Church in Saint Clair.

After the opening prayer by Glosser, lay reader Patrick Reilly read from the installation ceremony, “Monsignor Glosser, after consulting with the Priest Personnel Board, Bishop Barres has chosen the Rev. John W. Bambrick as our new pastor of the newly formed parish of St. Charles Borromeo. I now have the pleasure of presenting him to you as vicar forane of Schuylkill County and to all the parishioners of our parish.”

Glosser addressed the congregation, saying, “My dear friends, because Bishop Barres is aware of your pastoral needs and is confident of Father Bambrick’s qualifications for the office of pastor, he has asked me to express, in his name, his pastoral concern for the people of Ashland, Girardville and Gordon, and he commends Father Bambrick to you as your new pastor.”

Following applause by the congregation, Glosser faced Bambrick and said, “Remember, my brother John, always to be a loving father, a gentle shepherd, and a wise teacher of your people, so that you may lead them to Christ who will strengthen all that you do. And now I ask you to take the Presidential Chair that defines your office as pastor.”

Glosser and Bambrick changed positions, followed by Bambrick leading the “Gloria.” Bambrick was the main celebrant, with Glosser as concelebrant and homilist.

“Tonight, we gather to celebrate your very first Mass at the newly formed parish of St. Charles Borromeo,” Glosser said in his homily. “I have very fond memories of Ashland when I taught at Cardinal Brennan and even before that coming over here and saying matins for Father Gillis and helping out.”

Glosser spoke of his experience as pastor of three churches in Mahanoy City in 2008 when they merged with others to former Blessed Teresa of Calcutta Church. He remembered having spent 15 years in Mahanoy City and then becoming pastor of the newly formed St. Clare of Assisi Church.

“I understand, I truly understand, the gamut of emotions that you feel as we gather here tonight,” he said.

Glosser said his new parish in 2008 was also a merger of many churches, but he said after seven years, the success of St. Clare parish shows there is much hope as St. Charles parishioners look into the future.

“I was quite apprehensive when I arrived as pastor of St. Clare of Assisi,” Glosser said. “What I have to tell all of you this evening is that seven years later, my newly formed parish back then is alive and well. We now think as one parish, we share with each other as one parish, and more importantly, we pray as one parish.”

n Frackville: The Frackville Ministerium Food Bank will be open from 9 to 10 a.m. July 16 to serve eligible residents of the borough. The bank is at Zion Lutheran Church, Oak and Nice streets. People must use the downstairs entrance by the parking lot. New applicants will need proof of eligibility — a Frackville borough address.

n Frackville: The Frackville Pool Committee will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the Frackville Municipal & Community Center, 42 S. Center St., to continue planning for the construction of a new community swimming pool. The agenda will include discussion of fundraising projects and the search for major donors. The public is welcome.

n Mahanoy City: Coal Cracker, a Mahanoy City-based youth-led newspaper, will host a free journalism skills workshop titled “News Writing and Reporting for Your Community” from 1 to 2 p.m. Thursday on the second floor of the Mahanoy City Public Library, 17-19 W. Mahanoy St. Journalists Chris Mele and Meg McGuire will lead the session. The workshop is open to young people in grades 5 to 12 from any school district. No prior journalism experience is required. Those interested are asked to register in advance via email at info@coalcrackerkids.com or by calling 570-647-6407. Mele is a staff editor on the Metro Desk at The New York Times. He previously served as executive editor of the Pocono Record in Stroudsburg. McGuire began her career in weekly newspapers, and continued in local dailies for 25 years. For more information and the latest Coal Cracker news, go online to CoalCrackerKids.com.

n Pottsville: The Pottsville Lions Club elected Catherine Lintner-Wolfe to serve as its new president during its annual dinner meeting. Lintner-Wolfe’s term began at the start of the Lions year on July 1. She was born and raised in College Park, Maryland, moved to Pennsylvania and made Schuylkill County her home, according to the club bulletin. She has a daughter and a son and two grandchildren. She is a branch manager for Susquehanna Bank. “It is my goal and that of our club to take this progressive vision and move forward into a new era of community service while at the same time expanding our commitment to finding new ways of providing this ‘service’ to our community,” she said, stressing the importance of the Lions motto, “We Serve.” The club meets the first and third Mondays of each month at the Pottsville Zone. It also sponsors the Leo Club that at Pottsville Area High School. For additional information on the Club or to join, call Jerry at 570-622-9510.

n Ringtown: The 25th annual Ringtown community yard sale will be held July 18 beginning at 8 a.m. All Ringtown area residents are invited to participate, including residents of Union Township and the Brandonville and Pattersonville areas. To participate, register at the Ringtown Area Library, 132 W. Main St., and the sale will be included on the yard sale map. The cost to participate is $5, which allows for regional advertising of the event.

n Schuylkill Haven: The Schuylkill Haven Senior Citizens Association will hold its meeting at 7 p.m. July 13 at the Senior/Neighborhood Center, 340 Haven St. Membership dues for 2015 are past due and a late fee of $2 will be assessed to renewing members. This meeting is the final signup for the Sweet Arrow trip, according to an association release. A paid membership is required to participate in the event. Entertainment will follow the business meeting, as will refreshments and fellowship. Members and guests are always welcome.

n Valley View: The Johannes Schwalm Historical Association will celebrate its 40th anniversary with a two-day celebration at Valley View Park from July 11-12. The event will include an opening ceremony, share fair, Civil War encampment, musket firing demonstrations, Civil War medical officer, a hessian history treasurer hunt for school-age children and concessions and myriad other activities. All are welcome. JSHA is a 501(c) 3 nonprofit corporation that focuses on promotion and publication of Hessian history and genealogy as well as family contributions to American society beyond the American Revolution, according to a press release. For more information, go online to www.jsha.org or email Ross Schwalm at pahessian@gmail.com.

Anthony J. Kilker

SHENANDOAH — A Mahanoy City man charged with threatening to kill his ex-wife and a man who was with her on April 12 had charges against him held for court during a preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge Anthony J. Kilker.

Chad A. Benjamin, 35, of 100 W. Spruce St., was arrested by Mahanoy City police Chief John Kaczmarczyk and charged with terroristic threats, defiant trespass and harassment.

Kilker determined the commonwealth proved a prima facie case and ordered all three charges against Benjamin held for Schuylkill County Court.

Kaczmarczyk said Benjamin went to the 1404 E. Centre St. home of Melissa Benjamin for a scheduled child custody exchange and became involved in an argument. Chad Benjamin entered the home uninvited and threatened assault the woman and Andrew Gera. The woman was able to get Chad Benjamin out of the house and he fled before police arrived, Kaczmarczyk said.

Other court cases included:

Brandon N. Moody, 27, of State Correctional Institution/Frackville — dismissed: aggravated assault by prisoner, simple assault and harassment.

Brandon M. Obrzut, 44, of 220 W. New York St., Shenandoah — withdrawn: possession with intent to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance. Waived for court: possession of drug paraphernalia and resisting arrest.

Christina L. Baynum, 23, of 228 W. New York St., Shenandoah — waived for court: possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Bethany N. Fowler, 29, of 17 N. Hand St., Tower City — held for court: driving an unregistered vehicle, driving a vehicle without a valid inspection and possession, sale or use of display documents.

Joseph R. Minnich, 42, of 331 W. South St., Mahanoy City — waived for court: theft, receiving stolen property, criminal mischief and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.

Jeffrey V. Klemer, 20, of 230 N. Balliet St., Frackville — waived for court: DUI-controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and disregard for single traffic lane.

Jessica M. Kufrovich, 33, of 819 Centre St., Apt. 304, Ashland — waived for court: identity theft, possessing an access device knowing it was counterfeit or altered, theft, receiving stolen property and tampering with or fabricating physical evidence.

Christopher M. Hamlett, 26, of 612 Walnut St., Ashland — waived for court: possession with intent to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance and conspiracy.

Michael T. Heiler, 55, of 181 W. Main St., Ringtown — held for court: DUI-controlled substance, DUI, DUI-highest rate, driving too slow for conditions and illegal parking within 30 feet of a traffic signal.

Wayne V. Kechula, 41, of 115 W. Rock St., Mahanoy City — waived for court: possession of drug paraphernalia and disorderly conduct.

Irene Gassert, 61, of 105 W. Centre St., Shenandoah — withdrawn because the victim failed to attend: simple assault, harassment and terroristic threats.

Anastacio C. Guzman, 27, of 517 W. Market St., Mahanoy City — held for court: defiant trespass, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct. Guzman failed to attend the hearing and a warrant was requested for his arrest.

Colin M. Hasara, 35, of 401 W. South St., Mahanoy City — withdrawn due to a plea agreement with prosecutors: possession of drug paraphernalia.

Jody Forker, 42, of 373 Davos Circle, Zion Grove — withdrawn: theft and receiving stolen property.

Albin Kaminsky, 40, of 425 S. Jardin St., Shenandoah — waived for court: harassment and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Rhiannon Hennessey, 32, of 425 S. Jardin St., Shenandoah — withdrawn: simple assault. Waived for court: false reports, disorderly conduct and harassment.

Nicholas D. Lubeski, 35, of 1407 Walnut St., Ashland — waived for court: driving an unregistered vehicle, driving a vehicle with a suspended registration, refusal to surrender registration plate and fraudulent, altered, forged or counterfeit title, registration or insurance.

Ronexon Collado, 21, of 115 N. West St., Shenandoah — withdrawn: disorderly conduct and public drunkenness.

Jorge Henriquez, 18, of 319 E. Lloyd St., Shenandoah — waived for court: DUI-controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and no headlights.

Alec Ulicny, 22, of 228 W. Centre St., Shenandoah — withdrawn by the victim: simple assault, recklessly endangering another person and harassment.

David A. Plachko

PORT CARBON — A woman charged with allowing her 18-month-old child to walk the street of Minersville alone on April 17 waived her right to a preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge David A. Plachko.

Alicia Monique Purcell-Anthony, 25, of 117 N. John St., Girardville, formerly of 594 Sunbury St., Minersville, was arrested by Minersville police Patrolman Jeffrey Bowers and charged with one felony count of endangering the welfare of children.

By waiving her right to a hearing, Purcell-Anthony will have to answer to the charge in Schuylkill County Court.

Bowers said officers were called about 1 p.m. for a report of a child wandering alone in traffic in the area of Sixth and Sunbury streets. Bowers said an 18-month-old child was found there, taken into protective custody and returned to the police station.

Bowers said it was learned that the girl was the daughter of Purcell-Anthony and that the child and another child often roam the streets in the area unsupervised.

Other court cases included:

Emmanuel Lafond, 37, of 611 Harrison St., Pottsville — waived for court: aggravated assault, simple assault, DUI, careless driving, disregard for single traffic lanes and disorderly conduct.

William Griffiths, 32, of 56 N. Second St., Frackville — held for court: receiving stolen property, theft by deception, theft, criminal mischief and possession of a counterfeit, altered or incomplete access device.

Lance Troyhunter Reis, 31, of 209 Walnut St., Minersville — waived for court: theft, receiving stolen property and bad checks.

Haadee A. Bennett, 29, of 210 Pine St., Apt. 1, Minersville — dismissed: simple assault and harassment.

Shannon M. O’Boyle, 43, of 718 Mount Hope Ave., Box 96, Pottsville — held for court: retail theft.

Jennifer Eckert, 40, of 215 W. Mifflin St., Orwigsburg — waived for court: possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

John J. Kamant Jr., 55, of 616 Old Route 29, Apt. 1, Tamaqua — withdrawn: robbery. Waived for court: theft, harassment and receiving stolen property.

Joshua M. Canfield, 24, of 235 N. Second St., Apt. 2, Saint Clair — waived for court: simple assault and harassment.

Stephanie Parliament, 28, of 701 E. Pine St., Mahanoy City — held for court: receiving stolen property and theft of leased property.

Joseph R. Holland, 33, of 428 Pine St., Tamaqua — withdrawn: possession of drug paraphernalia. Dismissed: criminal mischief. Held for court: burglary, receiving stolen property, criminal trespass and theft.

Ralph J. Hoagland II, 46, of 325 Cherry St., Minersville — waived for court: DUI, DUI-high rate, disregard for single traffic lanes and careless driving.

Russell K. Dissinger, 31, of 14 W. Laurel St., Tremont — held for court: statements under penalty and materially false written statements.

Alexander J. Modawar, 35, of 324 W. Broad St., Tamaqua — waived for court: retail theft.

Thomas R. Quirk, 63, of Box 664, Pottsville — withdrawn: resisting arrest. Waived for court: DUI, DUI-highest rate, reckless driving, careless driving, driving an unregistered vehicle and driving without a license.

Michael F. McGinnis, 25, of 1957 W. Market St., 1st Floor, Pottsville — withdrawn: making a materially false oral statement. Waived for court: statements under penalty.

Also in recent court action in Port Carbon, a Saint Clair man charged with assaulting another man at his 424 S. Nicholas St. home on May 25 waived his right to a preliminary hearing before Plachko.

Darrin R. Keip, 24, was arrested by Saint Clair Patrolman Frank DiMarco and charged with one count each of simple assault and harassment. By waiving his right to a hearing Keip will now have to answer to both charges against him in Schuylkill County Court.

DiMarco charged Keip with assaulting Alex McFarland causing a laceration to his right eye requiring medical attention.

Other court cases included:

Jacklyn M. Zelinsky, 30, of 21 Columbia Ave., Cressona — withdrawn: theft and receiving stolen property.

Bradley L. Sunday, 59, of 620 Valley Road, Pottsville — waived for court: DUI, DUI-high rate and careless driving.

Scott A. Wise, 37, of 1803 W. Market St., Pottsville — waived for court: possession of a firearm prohibited, firearms not to be carried without a license, receiving stolen property, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of marijuana.

William M. Lindner, 38, of 410 W. Market St., Apt. 3, Pottsville — withdrawn: theft and receiving stolen property.

Pamela A. Mack, 39, of 230 Arnot St., Saint Clair — waived for court: possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Stephen S. Kubeika, 27, of 351 Chestnut St., Saint Clair — waived for court: fleeing or attempting to elude police, escape, DUI-controlled substance, off-road lighting, reckless driving, failure to keep right, driving without a license, driving while operating privileges are suspended or revoked, driving without insurance, driving a vehicle without a valid inspection and altered, forged or counterfeit title, registration or insurance.

Caption clarification

Joe Weikel and Anthony Toma, inmates at Schuylkill County Prison, worked with the Vocational Rehabilitation Program of the Schuylkill County Adult Probation/Parole Department to clean the inside of the former Pottsville Bike and Board shop at 125 W. Market St., Pottsville. The inmates were incorrectly identified in a photo caption in Saturday’s edition.

HARRISBURG — Tuesday marks the 10th anniversary of the legislative pay raise vote, a watershed moment in recent Pennsylvania political history.

The midnight vote by lawmakers on July 7, 2005, to give themselves a hefty pay raise on top of an annual cost-of-living bump has had far-reaching consequences.

The pay raise was an overreach of power by legislative leaders that spawned a voter backlash at the polls and then various county, state and federal political corruption probes. The pay raise was repealed by lawmakers several months after it was enacted.

For a quarter century leading up to 2005, legislative leaders of both parties had built up power through such devices as handing out “walking around money” to the rank and file in return for votes and punishing renegade lawmakers by taking away office space or committee spots.

That generation of leaders built up statewide or regional political machines, filling a vacuum left by the eclipse of county political chairmen when state patronage jobs dwindled in the late 1970s. They could count on longevity in power winning easily re-election at home and only rarely faced a challenge from within their caucus.

After the pay raise debacle, the leaders made frantic efforts to save incumbent lawmakers from being defeated in the 2006 elections. A record number of lawmakers, including two Senate leaders, went down to defeat anyway. The payment of bonuses to legislative staffers for campaign work led the wider state Bonusgate investigation into misuse of taxpayer money for campaign purposes.

Five legislative leaders holding power in 2005 were convicted or pleaded guilty to various corruption charges involving misuse of taxpayer money.

Two of them just got out of prison in recent weeks: former House Minority Whip Mike Veon, D-Beaver, and former House Appropriations Chairman Brett Feese, R-Lycoming.

The leaders who came to power after the pay raise lack the clout of their predecessors and are more attentive to the voices in their caucus. They are less secure in their tenure as seen with the caucus ouster of House Democratic Appropriations Chairman Dwight Evans, D-Philadelphia, in 2010, defeat at the polls of House Majority Leader Todd Eachus, D-Luzerne, in 2010 and caucus ouster of Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi, R-Chester, in 2014.

However, one thing hasn’t happened in the decade following the pay raise. That’s the passage of tough new state laws to deter political corruption. Lawmakers have passed two sunshine laws, reinstated a lobbyist disclosure law and updated an open record statute in the name of reform.

But lawmakers decided they’d rather police themselves for transgressions than give more power to a prosecutor through a law.

The Senate adopted a rule barring political activity on legislative time, but made itself the enforcing agent. The House adopted a set of policies in that regard. The two chambers adopted rules banning cash gifts after a cash-for-favor sting involving Philadelphia lawmakers erupted last year.

Despite the pay raise repeal, lawmakers have done all right for themselves the salary front in the years since thanks to the annual COLA.

The base salary in 2005 was $69,648, activist Eric Epstein of Rock the Capitol said. The base salary in 2015 is $85,356.

The salary doesn’t include the cost for health care, per diems and pensions.

Pottsville police took five people into custody during an incident that began about 1:20 a.m. Friday inside Sheetz, 900 Gordon Nagle Trail.

Pottsville police Chief Richard F. Wojciechowsky said officers saw Tyler R. McNulty, 23, of Schuylkill Haven, inside the store and were aware of an existing arrest warrant against him by Schuylkill County Adult Probation.

McNulty was taken into custody and a subsequent search determined he was in possession of methamphetamine.

Officers then learned that Kyle F. Lombel, 23, also of Schuylkill Haven, was with McNulty and was hiding in the men’s bathroom inside the business, the chief said. Lombel was also taken into custody on an outstanding arrest warrant and found to be in possession of drug paraphernalia.

Wojciechowsky said while officers were locating Lombel, they found Gianfranco Dovidio, 26, of Pottsville, who was wanted on a warrant from the Schuylkill County District Attorney’s Office.

At the time of his arrest, the chief said, Dovidio was found with a stun gun and drug paraphernalia.

He added that all three were committed to Schuylkill County Prison from the scene on each of their outstanding warrants.

Criminal complaints will be filed with Magisterial District Judge James K. Reiley, Pottsville, charging McNulty with possession of a controlled substance; Lombel with possession of drug paraphernalia; and Dovidio with possession of prohibited offensive weapons and possession of drug paraphernalia.

While on scene, Wojciechowsky said, officers saw a man and woman trying to hide behind McNulty’s vehicle in the parking lot of the business.

They were identified as Seth Savitsky, 18, of Pottsville, and Brianna Jo Schaeffer, 21, of Cressona, Wojciechowsky said.

He said a subsequent investigation revealed that Savitsky was in possession of a .22-caliber revolver, five boxes of .22-caliber ammunition and a spring loaded knife.

Savitsky was placed under arrest and arraigned by on-call Magisterial District Judge David A. Plachko, Port Carbon, on charges of felony firearms not to be carried without a license and possession of offensive weapons. He was then committed to prison unable to post 10 percent of $15,000 bail.

Wojciechowsky said Schaeffer was found to be in possession of drug paraphernalia and will be charged with possession of drug paraphernalia by summons.

A World War II veteran, George V. Jackson Jr., Landingville, made sure to grab a front-row seat Sunday for Anthracite Philharmonic’s annual Fourth of July concert at the Yuengling Mansion. Ninety-one years young, Jackson was excited to hear music he danced to in the 1940s.

“Those were the good times,” Jackson said, moving to the music with an American flag in his hand.

About 200 people attended the concert, which has been part of the Fourth of July celebrations in Pottsville for the last five years.

“Every year, it grows and I think it’s becoming a tradition in Pottsville and part of the annual Fourth of July celebration and that’s what we wanted it to be,” Mark P. Thomas, director, said.

While the orchestra always plays Americana music at the event, there is a different theme to the songs each year. This time it was celebrating the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II. The concert featured three styles of music: patriotic, movie themes and pop tunes from that era. It included the theme from the film “Patton” and music from the HBO television series “The Pacific” and “Band of Brothers.”

World War II veterans received two complimentary tickets to the show, Linda Kriner, manager of the Anthracite Philharmonic, said.

“I think it’s a great night,” she said. “The idea of the group is to give them classical music they can’t get anywhere else in the county.”

Keeping with this year’s theme, there was plenty of World War II memorabilia on display inside the mansion.

Thomas said his father’s World War II uniform was one of the items on display. His father, Russell C. Thomas, passed away last December and the board of directors of the Anthracite Philharmonic dedicated the 2015 season to his memory. Along with the uniform, there was a video of his father recalling his wartime experience to a reporter a few years ago.

“It was really neat to look at it now and see him talk about his experiences and some of the places he has been,” Thomas said. “It’s a major part of this nation’s history and it’s important to pass that history down. It’s something I hope the family will always be proud of.”

Jackson, who was enjoying his first Fourth of July concert, had a few stories of his own to tell from his time as part of the 101st Airborne Division and his participation in Holland and the Battle of the Bulge. On Christmas morning in 1944, Jackson recalled being hit with shrapnel. That metal still remains in his shoulder.

However, Jackson said he was still able to return home, get married and spend 62 years with his wife before she passed away.

“I have no complaints,” Jackson said. “I’m living the American dream.”

n Barnesville: St. Richard Roman Catholic Church will host a ladies night out from 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday in the church hall, 799 Barnesville Drive. Admission is $5 and will include a drink of choice on the house, according to a release. The event will also include a variety of finger food and goodies, and home show vendors and crafters will be on hand for shopping. Each vendor will offer a prize of choice from their goods with no purchase necessary. For more information, call 570-773-2059.

n Frackville: An open house at the Frackville Museum is set for 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday. The museum is located in the Frackville Municipal & Community Center, 42 S. Center St. There is no admission fee. The Frackville Singers will perform at 2 p.m. with a patriotic tribute. For more information, call 570-874-3531.

n New Philadelphia: Souls Harvest Baptist Church will have a free Vacation Bible School titled “Christ’s Secret Agents” from 9 a.m. to noon Wednesday at the church, 15 Clay St., for youngsters in kindergarten through sixth grade. For more information, call 570-386-1146. The church will also have “Calling All Teens, Christ’s Secret Agents,” from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday at the church for teens in seventh through 12th grades.

n Pottsville: In its concert series, Trinity Episcopal Church will feature marimba artist Greg Giannascoli of the Julliard School of Music from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Sept. 20 at the church, 200 S. Second St. He will present an eclectic program accompanied by Schuylkill County native Ron Stabinsky. Free parking will be available and the site is accessible to the handicapped. Free-will offerings will be accepted. For more information, call 570-449-7553.

n Pottsville: The Schuylkill County Council for the Arts will present “O’Hara — The Way It Was,” on July 29, 30 and 31 at the Schuylkill Country Club, 877 W. Market St., Orwigsburg. It is a dinner theater with dinner at 6 p.m. followed by the show at 7 p.m. The cost is $45 per person. All are welcome. For more information, call 570-622-2788.

n Pottsville: St. John the Baptist Parish family will hold its mid-summer festival from 5 to 9:30 p.m. July 17 and 18 at the parish grounds, Ninth Street and Schuykill Avenue. Entertainment will be provided by Dave Derbes on Friday and Nick Michels and his Parrot Band on Saturday.

n Shenandoah: The wooded northern section of Girard Park is ideal for Shenandoah Heritage Day visitors who enjoy nature walks. This year, Shenandoah Heritage Day will be held on Aug. 22, launched at 10 a.m. by the Parade of Nations, with at least 21 nations that make up the Shenandoah mosaic represented. Following the parade, there will be a wide variety of ethnic food, crafts, games, entertainment and other activities at Girard Park, including the northern end nature hike opportunities.

n Tamaqua: Christopher Czapla, principal, has announced an open house for the Tamaqua Area Middle School is scheduled for 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Aug. 17. Czapla said the event will provide families an opportunity to follow their child’s schedule and meet their teachers. It is not an evening for parent/teacher conferences, which may be scheduled for another date and time. “In addition to meeting the faculty, we encourage you to visit our informative areas regarding the MMS student portal, student planners, accelerated reader, Middle States accreditation and clubs. Homeroom assignments will be posted on the main doors as of Aug. 10.

n Valley View: The Johannes Schwalm Historical Association will sponsor a 40th anniversary event from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Valley View Park, Gap Street. Activities will honor the JSHA founders, Hessian ancestors from all families. Event will also honor Civil War veterans on the 150th anniversary of the end of the war in 1865. There is no admission fee. For more information, call 540-623-9303.

n Valley View: The Valley View Park Association will host Anthracite Movies Night at 6 p.m. July 17 at the Valley View Park, Gap Street. There is no set fee but donations will be accepted for the maintenance and improvement of the park. For more information, call 570-682-8959.

DEER LAKE — A New Ringgold man faces numerous charges after leading police on a high-speed chase Sunday afternoon from Mount Carbon to Deer Lake.

State police at Schuylkill Haven said the chase started when a trooper in a marked patrol car attempted to stop Chad Kenneth Belsak, 39. Belsak was driving a 1998 Chevrolet 1500 pickup truck 66 mph in a 50 mph zone at 12:23 p.m. in the southbound lane of Route 61, just south of Mount Carbon.

Police said Belsak fled at a high rate of speed, making numerous maneuvers, including speeding through the Cressona Mall parking lot before traveling on Route 183 south. Belsak allegedly forced numerous vehicles off the roadway and passed others while traveling in the wrong lane.

Police said Belsak continued onto Wilder Street in Cressona and onto property owned by Beckville Gun Club, crashing through a fence into a cornfield and down several private driveways.

Belsak continued onto Panther Valley Road into Cressona, traveling on numerous streets before entering Schuylkill Haven. Police said he continued to drive recklessly on numerous streets and back roads.

During the pursuit, Belsak allegedly drove through numerous stop signs and eventually came back out onto Route 61 from Sculps Hill Road, continuing south into Deer Lake while passing vehicles by traveling off the right side of the road.

Police said Belsak continually slammed on the brakes of his vehicle in an attempt to have state troopers rear end him. He then rear ended a pickup truck that did not get out of his way. While attempting to force the truck out of his way, police said, a trooper was able to box him in and force the vehicle to a stop.

Police said they took Belsak into custody with the assistance of other police departments. He was found to be wanted by the Schuylkill County Adult Probation Office for a probation violation. Police said Belsak was taken to the Schuylkill Medical Center-South Jackson Street for a blood test after it was suspected he was under the influence of a controlled substance. He was then transported to the Schuylkill County Prison on the outstanding warrant.

Charges include aggravated assault, recklessly endangering another person, fleeing and eluding police, driving under the influence of a controlled substance, speeding, stop sign violations, trespass by motor vehicle and other traffic violations.

Charges will be filed with Magisterial District Judge James R. Ferrier, Orwigsburg.

The investigation is continuing. State troopers were assisted by Schuylkill Haven, Orwigsburg and Penn State police, state police at Hamburg and Reading and aviation patrol units.

A former West Mahanoy Township man charged with killing another man last year is among those scheduled to plead not guilty Thursday during arraignment in Schuylkill County Court.

Thomas Petrousky, 54, currently jailed at State Correctional Institution/Brenner Township, Bellfonte, was arrested by West Mahanoy Township police Chief Shawn Tray and charged with criminal homicide, murder in the first degree, murder in the second degree, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, possessing instruments of crime, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person and harassment.

Tray charged Petrousky, formerly of 256 S. Wylam St., with murdering David D. Halaburda, 50, in his home, where Petrousky was staying.

An autopsy determined Halaburda died from “blunt force head and neck injuries” and a forensic pathologist ruled the manner of death a homicide.

Others scheduled to plead not guilty, and the charges against them, include:

David D. Furey, 67, of 155 School St., MaryD — DUI, DUI-high rate, careless driving and failure to drive on roadways laned for traffic.

Kelly L. Gorman, 26, of 2530 Papoose Drive, Auburn — DUI, DUI-highest rate and limitations on backing.

Peter D. Burke, 36, of 26 E. Pottsville St., Pine Grove — DUI and DUI-highest rate.

Damian L. Watson, 20, of 1333 Seneca St., Pottsville — driving under the influence of drugs, driving while operating privileges are suspended or revoked, careless driving, failure to drive on roadways laned for traffic and sun screening and other materials prohibited.

Melissa J. Hagengans, 37, of 645 John O’Hara St., Pottsville — DUI, driving under the influence of drugs and one-way roadway violation.

Joseph A. Spencer, 42, of 123 Market St., Tamaqua — DUI-highest rate and failure to obey traffic control signals.

William R. Peifley, 34, of 1 Robyn Road, Pottsville — DUI-highest rate.

Luke S. Ruff, 35, of 213 Long Ave., Orwigsburg — DUI, accidents involving damage to attended vehicle, failure to drive on roadways laned for traffic, driving at an unsafe speed, careless driving, failure to stop and give information or render aid and failure to give immediate notice of accident to police.

Cory D. Shade, 21, of 2107 W. Norwegian St., Pottsville — driving under the influence of drugs, accidents involving damage to unattended vehicles, failure to give immediate notice of accident to police, failure to stop and give information or render aid, overtaking a vehicle on the right, failure to drive on roadways laned for traffic, turning movements and required signals violation, driving at an unsafe speed, careless driving and failure to use seat belts.

Alfred G. Gober, 57, of 89 Hill Road, Buck Run, Pottsville — DUI, driving an unregistered vehicle, failure to drive on roadways laned for traffic, driving at an unsafe speed and driving without insurance.

Michelle M. Houtz, 40, of 1615 Walnut St., Ashland — DUI and DUI-highest rate.

Jeremy A. Wade, 34, of 44-48 S. Lehigh Ave., Frackville — DUI, driving while operating privileges are suspended or revoked, careless driving and one-way roadway violation.

Christopher S. Palmer, 30, of 616 E. Norwegian St., Pottsville — DUI, one-way roadway violation and careless driving.

Joseph A. Klinger, 25, of 505 N. Centre St., Suite 2, Pottsville — fleeing or attempting to elude police, DUI, driving while operating privileges are suspended or revoked, reckless driving and stop and yield sign violations.

Nicolai J. Varga, 26, of 16 S. White St., Shenandoah — possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and driving under the influence of drugs.

Andrew D. Harding, 27, of 15 Church St., Gilberton — possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Tony A. Mundo, 45, of 115 Catawissa St., Tamaqua — DUI, DUI-high rate, turning movements and required signals violation and driving on the wrong side of the road.

John M. Jasinsky, 24, of 225 R. Rowe St., Apt. 1, Tamaqua — driving under the influence of drugs, possession of drug paraphernalia and turning movements and required signals violation.

Nicholas M. Brown, 33, of 125 S. Third St., Minersville — driving under the influence of drugs, resisting arrest, harassment, driving without insurance and driving on a sidewalk.

Norman J. Sterling, 59, of 625 Arlington St., Tamaqua — driving under the influence of drugs, limitations on driving on the left side of the road, failure to drive on roadways laned for traffic and careless driving.

Nathaniel Fry, 20, of 8 Cherry St., Tamaqua — retail theft.

Kathy A. Terry, 43, of 141 Third St., Coaldale — terroristic threats, simple assault, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, harassment and public drunkenness.

Faith E. Morgan, 41, of 22 Coles St., Mahanoy City — burglary, criminal trespass, theft, receiving stolen property and disorderly conduct.

Rachael Pleva-Sanko, 36, of 345 Brandonville Road, Ringtown — criminal use of a communications facility, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Emily A. Lapinsky, 21, of 116 E. Main St., Girardville — false identification to law enforcement and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Robert W. Enloe, 27, of 128 W. Ogden St., Girardville — theft and receiving stolen property.

Andrew W. Zeiders, 37, of 408 W. Market St., Mahanoy City — delivery of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance, possession of a small amount of marijauna and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Robert Wentworth, 33, of 120 N. Bower St., Shenandoah — possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Ryan A. Hasara, 42, of 217 W. Mahanoy Ave., Mahanoy City — possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Charles S. Brilla, 22, of 821 Water St., Pottsville — possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Thomas J. Paris, 50, of 7 W. Pine St., Sheppton — receiving stolen property.

Dustin T. Makara, 32, of 272 Ferndale Road, Zion Grove — resisting arrest, recklessly endangering another person, defiant trespass, disorderly conduct and public drunkenness.

Robert Wentworth, 33, of 9 N. Bower St., Shenandoah — possession of drug paraphernalia.

Joshua E. Kaylor, 25, of 225 E. Centre St., Shenandoah — resisting arrest, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Scott Kendricks, 32, of 10 Chelton St., Shenandoah — fleeing or attempting to elude police, careless driving, failure to drive on streets and highways and failure to obey traffic control signals.

Joshua J. Mooney, 27, of 420 E. Railroad St., Mahanoy City — possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Eric S. Hoffman, 23, of 1036 Market St., Ashland — resisting arrest, loitering and prowling at night, possession of drug paraphernalia and public drunkenness.

Brenton W. Gruber, 31, of 154 Third St., Coaldale — possession of drug paraphernalia.

Alyssa Gruber, 25, of 154 Third St., Coaldale — possession of drug paraphernalia.

Thomas Kennedy, 44, of 62B Hunter St., Tamaqua — possession of a small amount of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Kelly Kaczmarczyk, 37, of 134 W. Mahanoy Ave., Mahanoy City — obstructing the administration of law and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Keshon L. Canyon, 24, of 1701 W. Norwegian St., Pottsville — possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance, possession of a small amount of marijuana, driving while operating privileges are suspended or revoked, driving without insurance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Dennis T. Cooney, 39, of 314 S. Jardin St., Shenandoah — possession of drug paraphernalia.

Mark P. Georgeff, 54, of 201 W. Centre St., Shenandoah — aggravated assault on police, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, fleeing or attempting to elude police, possession of a controlled substance, driving while operating privileges are suspended or revoked, stop and yield sign violations, reckless driving, driving an unregistered vehicle, driving a vehicle without an inspection certificate, fraudulent use or removal of a registration plate, driving without insurance, driving at an unsafe speed, careless driving and altered, forged or counterfeit documents and plates.

Walter F. Slifka, 67, of 877 Sunbury St., Minersville — accidents involving damage to attended vehicle or property, careless driving and failure to drive on roadways laned for traffic.

Richard D. Kennedy, 30, of 176 Penn St., Tamaqua — possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and driving while operating privileges are suspended or revoked.

Charles C. Shutt, 57, of 122 S. Tulpehocken St., Pine Grove — criminal mischief.

Angela M. Fetterolf, 21, of 140 Rosies Road, Ashland — simple assault and harassment.

Brenda Sheppo, 31, of 235 Pike St., Port Carbon — possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Donnie T. Carl, 28, of 107 S. Second St., Lykens — conspiracy, receiving stolen property and theft.

David L. Wilson, 29, of 210 Sweet Arrow Lake Road, Pine Grove — possession of drug paraphernalia and theft from a motor vehicle.

Shannon M. O’Boyle, 44, of 718 Mount Hope Ave., Box 96, Pottsville — retail theft.

Jennifer M. Eckert, 40, of 215 W. Mifflin St., Orwigsburg — possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Brian Dietrick, 44, of 300 Chestnut St., Ashland — delivery of a controlled substance, criminal use of a communications facility, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Doug E. Chupasko, 49, of 1418 Railroad St., Frackville — risking a catastrophe, resisting arrest, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and disorderly conduct.

Joseph A. Spencer, 42, of 123 Market St., Tamaqua — DUI, DUI-highest rate, driving under the influence of drugs, driving under combined influence, driving at an unsafe speed and careless driving.

Robert Rex, 21, of SCI/Mahanoy, Frackville — flight to avoid apprehension, trial or punishment.

Daniel P. Close, 49, of 121 Condor Lane, Pottsville — receiving stolen property.

Darren Drey, 19, of 57 Centre Ave., Schuylkill Haven — criminal trespass, conspiracy, theft, receiving stolen property and criminal mischief.

Marriage licenses

Walter E. Hunsicker, McAdoo, and Cynthia L. Rusnock, McAdoo.

Brett E. Reppert, Tamaqua, and Marissa Jo Wexler, Tamaqua.

Benjamin L. Stiles, Westfield, and Sherry J. Lord, Hamburg.