n Cressona: The Blue Mountain High School Class of 1980 will hold its 35th-year reunion from 3 to 10 p.m. Sept. 26 at Beckville Fish and Game, Beckville Road. The cost is $30 per person. The gathering will include live music by The New Individuals, a disc jockey and special guests. Food will be by Hess’ Catering. For more information, call 908-361-3483.

n Frackville: A free open house at the Frackville Museum is set for 1 to 4 p.m. Aug. 9. The museum is located in the Frackville Municipal & Community Center, Center and Oak streets. At 2 p.m. during the event, Elaine Mykolayko will speak on “The Frackville Free Public Library: 75 Years and Beyond.” For more information, call volunteer Kathy Kraft at 570-874-3531.

n Millersburg: The Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art will continue its 2015 DeSoto Amphitheater season at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 21 featuring a rock performance by Shotgunn. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 for the general public and $8 for center members with coupons. Tickets are available online at www.nedsmithcenter.org or by calling 717-692-3699.

n New Philadelphia: The Actors Guild of Schuylkill County will present the musical comedy “Young Frankenstein” at 7 p.m. Aug. 14 and 15 and 2 p.m. Aug. 16 at the Theatre at the Simon Kramer Institute, 15 Alliance St. Tickets for the show are only $15 each. The cost for dinner prior to the show plus the show is $45 per person. For tickets, call 570-617-2720 or go online to www.agosc.org.

n Pottsville: Joshua Stranix, the state secretary for The Arc of Pennsylvania, a group dedicated to working with and for people with developmental and/or intellectual disabilities, recently spoke at a meeting of the Pottsville Lions Club. Stranix, who was born with a developmental disability, was raised by a mother (a special education teacher) and dad (a regular classroom teacher), according to the Lions bulletin. His parents, he said, refused to listen to those who told them to “give up” but rather worked closely with United Cerebral Palsy, the local Arc and others who, Stranix said, he credits with his development and numerous achievements. “Their hard work, encouragement and strong belief in my abilities as an individual with potential is how I became the man I am today,” he said. In addition to his five years as a member of the state board of directors for The Arc of Pennsylvania and now as secretary, Stranix is also involved as an advocate for the various individuals he represents, having recently been asked to speak before both the state Legislature and governor regarding the need for increased funding for services that benefit people with developmental and intellectual disabilities, according to the bulletin.

n Schuylkill Haven: Diakon Community Services Schuylkill Haven Center, 340 Haven St., will sponsor a free movie and ice cream sundaes from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Wednesday at the center. The movie will be “Mr. Peabody and Sherman.” Participants will make their own sundaes. Supervised children are welcome. Sponsors are the center and Schuylkill Haven Recreation. For more information, call 570-385-5611.

n Schuylkill Haven: The borough council canceled its Aug. 5 meeting. The next council meeting is scheduled for Aug. 19.

n Shenandoah: The Rescue Hook and Ladder Fire Company will hold its annual block party Aug. 7-9 at the firehouse, Main and Coal streets. Many food favorites will be available from 11 a.m. Aug. 7, from noon Aug. 8 and from 4 p.m. Aug. 9. There will be bingo from 6 to 10 p.m. each day and a fire truck parade at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 7. The horseshoe tournament will be at 9 a.m. Aug. 8 and a motorcycle poker run will also be held at 11 a.m. Aug. 8, with registration from 9 to 10:30 a.m., and a rain date of Aug. 9. There will be refreshments and games of chance each day.

SUMMIT STATION — The Schuylkill County Sheriff’s Office, in conjunction with the Schuylkill County Fair, held a drug take back day at the fair Friday.

The first-ever event was well received by the public, Chief Deputy Sheriff Brian Tobin said.

“It was a good night,” he said.

People were able to drop off prescription medicine at the fair from 4 to 8 p.m. The medicine will be taken to be destroyed.

“We decided to give this opportunity a chance here to see what kind of response we get here,” Tobin said.

The department did not set a goal on how much they wanted to take in for the effort.

Tobin was “very happy” for the effort at the fair. About 26 small bags of medication were given to the department. He estimated that the medicine weighed about 15 pounds.

Providing avenues like drug take back events to turn in medication can prevent misuse or abuse, he said. It can also help the environment because people are not flushing the medication down the toilet.

People thanked Tobin for providing the chance to turn in the medication. He said a lot of it was expired medication from family members who passed away. He would like to have the event next year at the fair.

If you did not get to drop off expired or unused medication, you can do so at the courthouse Monday through Friday by telling security you want to drop it off. A drug take back event will be held Sept. 12 in the county, Tobin said. Locations have not been announced.

A three-judge state Superior Court panel has upheld the conviction of a Chester County man caught speeding and driving under suspension in Schuylkill County, but ordered that he be resentenced.

In an eight-page opinion filed Friday, the panel ruled William T. Reil, 73, of Elverson, offered no justification for overturning his convictions for speeding and driving under suspension.

However, Reil, who has not had a valid driver’s license for 18 years, must be resentenced because of changes in the law, Senior Judge Eugene B. Strassburger II wrote in the panel’s opinion.

County Judge Cyrus Palmer Dolbin found Reil guilty on Jan. 12 and sentenced him to serve 90 days in prison and pay costs and $1,065 in fines.

State police at Frackville had charged Reil with driving 65 mph in a 45 mph zone about 12:35 p.m. Sept. 12, 2014, on Route 61 between Ashland and Frackville. Magisterial District Judge Christina E. Hale, Frackville, had found Reil guilty on Nov. 5, 2014, but the defendant appealed that ruling on Dec. 4, 2014.

Strassburger quickly rejected all of Reil’s challenges to his conviction, terming his argument “incoherent and rambling.”

He ruled the court had jurisdiction and properly ruled on the case without a jury. He also noted that Reil has not had a valid license since May 31, 1997, and must take all necessary steps to restore it in order not to be convicted of driving under suspension.

However, Strassburger wrote that the law now requires a minimum and maximum term in every sentence imposing prison time, and Dolbin must resentence Reil accordingly.

Strassburger noted that this change in the law occurred after Dolbin imposed the sentence on Reil.

Judges Cheryl Lynn Allen and Paula Francisco Ott, the other panel members, joined in Strassburger’s opinion.

The number of unemployed in Schuylkill County is at its lowest point in eight years.

The seasonally adjusted jobless rate dropped to 6.1 percent in June, according to the latest figures released Tuesday by the state Department of Labor & Industry.

“The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped from 6.5 percent in May to 6.1 percent in June primarily due to the seasonally adjusted unemployment dropping from 4,500 to 4,200,” Jeff Newman, industry and business analyst for the department, said Wednesday. “That is the lowest the unemployment has been in the month of June since 2007, when it was 3,600.”

The number of employed increased by 300 over the month to 65,100, while the labor force dropped by 100 to 69,300. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped 0.8 of a percentage point from 6.9 percent a year ago.

Meanwhile, the seasonally adjusted rate for the state was 5.4 percent and the national rate was 5.3 percent.

Total non-farm jobs were up 100 over the month in the county and up 1,000 since a year ago. Private sector jobs were also up 400 over the month and up 900 since a year ago.

“State and local government had seasonal decreases due to the end of the academic school year,” Newman said. “However, education and health services, which would include private schools and colleges, actually went up 100. That would indicate that health services increased enough to more than offset the education job loss.”

The surrounding areas had the following seasonally adjusted rates for June: Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton, 5.4; Harrisburg and Carlisle, 4.4; Reading, 5; Scranton, Wilkes-Barre and Hazleton, 6.1; and Bloomsburg, Berwick and Sunbury, 5.3 percent.

HAZLETON —The Hazleton Area school board meeting Thursday night turned into a hot forum on the possibility of saving a bundle of money for the district during austere times, if all goes as planned.

Potential savings of more than $300,000 could be realized by not filling two key positions in the district.

When Craig Butler was named the new superintendent of the district, the question of not filling the assistant superintendent position that he had occupied for two years arose during budgetary planning.

Butler was in favor of not filling the position and taking on more responsibility in a gesture of fiscal support.

Since June, Butler and George Donadi, director of elementary and middle schools, have been absorbing and sharing the duties of assistant superintendent, saving the district a potential $183,273.40 each year that this occurs, according to Bob Krizansky, the district’s treasurer and assistant business manager.

To further increase savings, the board voted 5-4 for a salary increase of approximately $10,000 for Jessica Barrett, personnel/benefits supervisor.

Barrett, who will receive $70,000 a year onward, will absorb the duties of former human resources director Jacqueline McHale.

The consolidation of this position will save the district $142,196.82 a year.

The exact savings from the amalgamation of the two positions gives the district a projected yearly savings of $325,470.22.

Despite the calculated savings, the blending of McHale’s former position into Barrett’s became the object of significant debate among board members.

Director Clarence John explained the rationale behind what he termed a raise that may seem large, on the surface, to some. He said that when put into perspective, and given the increase in Barrett’s workload, it is really anything but that.

“She is going to get an awfully lot more duties and assignments,” he said. “I think that $10,000 more is great for her, but it is probably not enough, but it is going to save us a ton of money.”

He further explained that average school district property taxes in Schuylkill County are going up approximately $80, causing distress to many. For that reason, he said it is only just that the district also make some sacrifices.

Director Robbie Wallace said he would have liked to have seen Barrett’s complete job description before having the item put to a vote.

Similarly, director Bob Mehalick cautioned that the joining of the two positions involves a monumental workload.

He said if the job is too great for one person, there may be serious fallout months down the line for the district.

Butler said Barrett “has already taken on a significant amount of (new) work” in the area of human resources.

He added that he and Donadi would be shouldering a significant amount of higher personnel hiring, and that they already have begun doing that.

Butler also reported that all who have taken on the extra workloads are managing well at this time.

Director Brian Earley voiced his concern about how a district the size of Hazleton Area can operate effectively without an actual human resources director, a position he had rallied to create in the first place.

John responded that the board can evaluate the success of consolidation in January, and if the personnel position needs to be amended at that time, the board can readjust it or invent the positions anew.

In the meantime, he said, half of a large salary can be saved.

A man was jailed after being arrested by Pottsville police on charges of sexual assault stemming from an incident on July 24.

Police said their investigation revealed that a 13-year-old Pottsville female had disclosed that she was sexually assaulted by a man she identified as Francis Augustino Mercede, 28.

The teen told investigators that she had been sleeping at a friend’s house when she woke up at 5 a.m. and found Mercede lying on top of her holding her hands above her head.

The girl reported she kicked the man off and he left the room only to return about 7 a.m. when she woke again and found Mercede having sexual contact with her.

Police said the girl reported she fought with Mercede a second time and told her parents of the incidents later in the day.

Police said officers located Mercede to conduct an interview into the incident, learned that he was wanted on an outstanding Florida arrest warrant for failure to register as a sex offender in that state and immediately took him into custody and placed him in Schuylkill County Prison.

On July 26, police said Mercede was arraigned on two counts of indecent assault and a charge of corruption of minors. Bail was set at $50,000 straight cash, and Mercede was ordered to prison.

Police said they are now currently investigating a second report of a sexual assault involving Mercede having inappropriate contact with a different female juvenile in the city and that investigation is ongoing.

MAHANOY CITY — Borough council accepted the bid from Bill Davis Cement Contractors, Morea, for a paving project at the North Eighth Street Park at its July meeting.

The company was the lone bidder on the project. The base bid was $20,742.57, with an alternate bid of $9,642.59, for a total bid of $30,385.16.

“This was awarded contingent on the engineer’s and the solicitor’s review,” borough Manager Daniel Lynch said. “The engineer’s review will see what we can afford since we only have so much money that was left over from the grant. They’ll review it and make sure it still meets the specs we wanted.”

The base bid would include the paving of the driveway ends of the park, while the alternate amount would include paving the front.

“We were going after a Phase II grant, which we didn’t get, but we did have some money that we were going to use as a match for that grant,” Lynch said. “Part of Phase II was to do this pave work, which we have enough money, but not enough to put in a volleyball court and pavilion. The paving is all that we can afford without dipping into other funds.”

The paving project will be paid using grant funds from the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ Community Conservation Partnerships Program and the Community Development Block Grant program.

Lynch said the work will begin as soon as possible.

In other business, the borough council:

· Appointed James Whalen to the Civil Service Commission.

· Approved the purchase of four picnic tables to be placed in Herman’s Park. The tables will be purchased through the state COSTARS Program.

· Approved advertising for part-time police officers.

· Approved the request of the Washington Hook and Ladder Company to attend parades in McAdoo, Shenandoah, Tuscarora, Nesquehoning and Lake Harmony.

· Approved the closing of North Main Street between Centre and Railroad streets for a concert by the Upper Schuylkill Marching Band at 7 p.m. Aug. 12.

The meeting began with a moment of silence in memory of council Vice President Raymond Cavenas, a two-term councilman who passed away July 8 after a lengthy illness.

Justin A. Boyer did not show up for his trial in June in Schuylkill County Court, but he did show up Thursday to learn he would not have to go to prison for what he did.

Instead, Boyer, 25, of New Ringgold, will spend two years on probation under the terms of Judge Cyrus Palmer Dolbin’s sentence.

“Good luck to you,” Dolbin said to the defendant after imposing the sentence, which also requires Boyer to pay costs, $1,105 in fines, $50 to the Criminal Justice Enhancement Account and a $50 bench warrant fee, and perform 25 hours community service.

In a one-day trial, a jury convicted Boyer on June 1 of fleeing or eluding police. Dolbin, who presided over Boyer’s trial, found him guilty of four counts of unlawful operation of snowmobile or all-terrain vehicle and one count each of reckless driving, following too closely, operating snowmobile or all-terrain vehicle without liability insurance and operating vehicle without required financial responsibility.

West Penn Township police charged Boyer with fleeing from them while driving an ATV on Aug. 21, 2014, in the township.

Also in the county court, Judge Jacqueline L. Russell recently accepted guilty pleas from, and, pursuant to agreements between prosecutors and defendants, imposed the indicated sentences on, these people:

Lee Ann Burns-McCloe, 47, of Pittston; driving under the influence, driving without a license, operating vehicle without valid inspection and failure to drive at a safe speed; 30 days in prison, 90 days house arrest with electronic monitoring, 30 days alcohol monitoring, seven months strict supervision, four years probation, $1,900 in fines, $300 payment to the Substance Abuse Education Fund and $60 restitution to Schuylkill Medical Center-South Jackson Street, with sentence effective at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday. Prosecutors withdrew a charge of DUI with a suspended license.

Bobbi L. Petrozino, 31, of Tremont; possession of drug paraphernalia; 12 months probation, $100 SAEF payment and drug and alcohol evaluation.

Bernadette Poznar, 35, of Hazle Township; no contest plea to DUI; 72 hours to six months in prison with immediate parole, $1,000 fine, $100 SAEF payment, $50 bench warrant fee and 20 hours community service. Prosecutors withdrew a charge of improper driving without headlights.

Travis S. Reichert, 27, of Pottsville; possession of a small amount of marijuana and public drunkenness; 30 days probation, $50 fine and $100 SAEF payment.

Ryan M. Seidel, 27, of Temple; DUI; 30 days in prison, 90 days house arrest with electronic monitoring, 30 days alcohol monitoring, 30 days strict supervision, $1,500 fine, $100 SAEF payment and 20 hours community service. Prosecutors withdrew a charge of unsafe U-turn.

Kenneth Shankweiler, 53, of Barnesville; DUI; 30 days in prison, 90 days house arrest with electronic monitoring, 30 days alcohol monitoring, seven months strict supervision, four years probation, $1,500 fine, $100 SAEF payment, $60 restitution to Schuylkill Medical Center-South Jackson Street and 30 hours community service. Prosecutors withdrew charges of failure to notify police of accident and careless driving.

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

David A. Plachko

PORT CARBON — A 46-year-old man charged with assaulting another man in Minersville on May 15 waived his right to a preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge David A. Plachko.

David J. Natale, 109 S. 2nd St., Minersville, was arrested by Minersville Police Patrolman Richard Clink and charged with one count each of simple assault and harassment. By waiving his right to a hearing Natale will now have to answer to both charges in Schuylkill County Court.

Clink charged Natale with confronting Jeffrey Tellez on a sidewalk in the 100 block of South 2nd Street around 4 p.m. and spraying the man with pepper spray. Clink said the investigation determined Tellez went to the Natale home to confront him about his former girlfriend when an an altercation began, resulting in Tellez being sprayed.

Other court cases included:

Joseph R. McGinley, 42, of 6 Walnut St., Middleport; waived for court: DUI-controlled substance, driving an unregistered vehicle, driving with an alcohol level of .02-percent or higher with a suspended license, disregard for single traffic lane and careless driving.

John R. Kruss, 40, of 330 Oak St., Port Carbon; waived for court: possession of drug paraphernalia.

Loretta Lynn Bennett, 42, of 28 Spruce St., Minersville; held for court: retail theft.

David Lee Wilson, 29, of 71 Pleasant Valley Road, Pine Grove; held for court: possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Maria J. Spinelli, 40, of 62 Lang St., Port Carbon; dismissed: theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property, theft by deception and access device unauthorized by issuer.

Zachary A. Stevenson, 26, of 755 E. Norwegian St., Pottsville; withdrawn: theft of property, mislaid or delivered by mistake, theft by deception and receiving stolen property.

Amanda L. Boyd, 24, of 106 N. 11th St., Apt. 2, Pottsville; held for court; fraudulent, forged, altered or counterfeit title, registration or insurance and possession, sale or use of display documents.

Stephen J. Bayer

TAMAQUA — A 25-year-old Tamaqua woman charged with assaulting staff at St. Luke’s Hospital, Coaldale, on Jan. 24 appeared for a preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge Stephen J. Bayer.

Shante Richards, 7 Blews Lane, was arrested by Coaldale Police Patrolman Joseph Krebs and charged with aggravated assault, terroristic threats, simple assault, disorderly conduct and harassment. Prosecutors withdrew the aggravated assault charge and Richards waived the remaining offenses to Schuylkill County Court.

Krebs said Richards was taken to the hospital by her husband for treatment of depression and while there the woman became combative with a doctor and nurses spitting on them, kicking them and screaming at the staff.

Richards also pushed two nurses and knocked a security officer to the ground, Krebs said adding that a total of five hospital staff members were treated that night in the emergency room due to the incident.

Other court cases included:

Thomas R. Zemanik, 53, of 230 Market St., Tamaqua, and 107 Clay St., Tamaqua; withdrawn: DUI-highest rate. Waived for court: DUI-highest rate, DUI, careless driving and accidents involving damage to unattended vehicles or property.

Trent J. Jacoby, 35, of 227 Arnot St., Saint Clair; waived for court: retail theft and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Angie J. Kasper, 33, of 2030 Wiconisco St., Tower City; waived for court: possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a small amount of marijuana and retail theft.

Stanley C. Moldenhauer, 35, of 21 Wayne Ave., Tamaqua; waived for court: DUI, DUI-highest rate, driving without insurance, criminal mischief and accidents involving damage to unattended vehicles or property.

Harry B. Lentz III, 52, of 28 3rd St., Box 236, Kelayres; waived for court: DUI, DUI-highest rate and failure to stop at a red signal.

Joseph A. Rolenaitis, 22, of 4 Main St., Middleport; waived for court: possession of drug paraphernalia, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct.

Gerald Biscoe, 35, of 134 N. Kennedy Drive Rear, McAdoo; withdrawn: fleeing or attempting to elude police and driving while operating privileges are suspended or revoked. Waived for court: driving without a license, no headlights and turning movements and required signals.

Jake A. Love, 20, of 250 White Tail Crossing Road, Tamaqua; waived for court: DUI, DUI-minor, DUI-high rate, driving an unregistered vehicle and purchase of alcohol by a minor.

Brian A. Whildin, 38, of 224 East St., Coaldale; waived for court: simple assault and harassment.

Franklin J. Kunkel III, 24, of 101 E. High St., Coaldale; waived for court: DUI, DUI-high rate, accidents involving damage to unattended vehicles or property, failure to notify police of an accident and careless driving.

Jonathan Evanco, 21, of 27 E. Monroe St., McAdoo; held for court: possession of drug paraphernalia.

Drew A. Strohl, 54, of 52 E. Howard Ave., Coaldale; waived for court: DUI, DUI-highest rate and disregard for single traffic lane.

Kristy Kunkel, 25, of 107 Coal St., Tamaqua; waived for court: theft by unlawful taking and receiving stolen property.

Kimberly Ann Brogdon, 41, of 327 Spruce St., Tamaqua; held for court: retail theft, receiving stolen property and theft by deception.

Mary J. Ford, 28, of 526 Arlington St., Apt. 1, Tamaqua; waived for court: theft by unlawful taking and receiving stolen property.

Phillip M. Ryan IV, who once signed a contract to play in the National Football League, returned to prison Friday after he admitted violating his probation on charges he seriously injured another man in a June 2012 accident.

Schuylkill County Judge James P. Goodman revoked Ryan’s probation, sentenced him to time served to 18 months in prison and ordered him to get a drug and alcohol evaluation.

“You have to get this drug and alcohol evaluation and follow through,” Goodman told Ryan, 26, of Tamaqua. “Let’s get your life turned around and squared away so you’re not back in court.”

Ryan admitted violating his probation by failing to report to his supervising officer, moving without permission and failing a drug test.

He originally pleaded guilty on Aug. 14, 2013, to driving under the influence, recklessly endangering another person, careless driving and violation of restrictions on alcoholic beverages, with prosecutors withdrawing charges of aggravated assault by vehicle while DUI, failing to keep right and reckless driving.

At that time, Goodman sentenced Ryan to serve one to six months in prison and an additional 18 months on probation, pay costs, $1,275 in fines, $100 to the Substance Abuse Education Fund, $50 to the Criminal Justice Enhancement Account and $85,728.21 restitution to his victim, Gary Boettger, Tamaqua.

Tamaqua police alleged Ryan was DUI northbound on Route 309 at Taggertsville Road in the borough at 11:43 p.m. June 16, 2012, when he crossed the double-yellow line and collided with a vehicle driven by Boettger.

Boettger had to be flown to St. Luke’s University Hospital-Bethlehem Campus, Fountain Hill, for treatment in the intensive care unit, police said.

Boettger testified at Ryan’s preliminary hearing that he suffered a fractured ankle and additional injuries to his back, heel and ribs and had to stay in the hospital for about a week.

Ryan also suffered injuries in the crash and had to be taken to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest for treatment, while his passenger, Brad Petrutsch, Mahanoy City, was taken to St. Luke’s Hospital-Miners Campus, Coaldale, for treatment of his injuries, according to police.

An offensive lineman at Marian Catholic High School, Hometown, and the University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, Ryan signed a contract with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2012, but was released by the team on May 2, 2012.

FRACKVILLE — A former North Schuylkill School District teacher was charged Friday with sexually assaulting a 13-year-old student earlier this year.

Melinda A. Trezise, 39, of 55 Front St., Cressona, was charged by Butler Township police Patrolman Shawn Butler with two felony counts of statutory sexual assault; one felony count each of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a person under the age of 16, institutional sexual assault-schools, corruption of minors, contact or communication with a minor-sexual offenses and interference with the custody of children; and two misdemeanor counts of indecent assault on a person under the age of 16.

Trezise was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Christina E. Hale, Frackville, and released after posting 10 percent of $50,000 straight cash bail.

Hale told Trezise she is not to have any contact with the victim and stressed “there are some very serious charges here.”

Since Trezise surrendered Friday, Hale said she does not feel the woman is a flight risk but denied a request by her attorney, Frank Cori, for unsecured bail.

Cori cited the woman and victim live in different towns, her family dynamics and no past criminal history in making his request.

The incidents came to light in April when Trezise was involved in an automobile accident with another teacher and a 13-year-old boy ran from the scene after exiting the woman’s car.

The other teacher involved in the crash, also a school social worker, spoke to the boy, who subsequently admitted being in an inappropriate relationship with Trezise.

Days later, Butler said a sixth-grade teacher searching for graduation materials found a note in Trezise’s classroom that read, “If anything should ever happen to me, there are several things I need the world to know. No matter what, I love my daughters more than life itself. I love my husband and I love my family. I’ve loved my teaching career and I’ve always tried to be a good person.”

The note continued, “My mistakes have been many since December. I need help — a lot of help. I’m seeing how broken I am and I need help. I can’t trust — that is my problem. HELP,” Butler said.

About two weeks later, the 13-year-old was interviewed at Children’s Resource Center, Harrisburg, and disclosed the relationship he was having with Trezise. He said Trezise, his former sixth-grade teacher, kissed him multiple times on the lips and cheek between January and the time of the accident on April 15 and that she would touch him over his clothing, Butler said.

The boy was interviewed again in July and he said he and Trezise were in a relationship since December that included kissing and touching over clothing, and the relationship became sexual in early February.

Butler said the boy said he and Trezise would converse daily via text message and that she would pick him up near his home and the two would drive to another location to have sexual relations.

The boy said the sexual relations occurred one time in Pottsville and the remaining times at Trezise’s home, Butler said.

Butler said the boy reported Trezise would tell him to conceal their relationship from family members and friends because he would be in as much trouble as her.

Butler said the child reported that Trezise said there was also no problem with contraception since she was unable to have any more children, and the child recalled having at least 14 sexual encounters with the woman at her home.

After having sexual relations at the home, Butler said the teenager reported he would hang out at that location, eat and watch movies.

Trezise resigned from the school district earlier this year.

Hale scheduled a preliminary hearing on the charges for 10 a.m. Aug. 10 in her Frackville courtroom.

None injured in

2-car collision

MOLINO — Two people escaped injury when their vehicles collided at the intersection of Route 61 and Summer Valley Road in West Brunswick Township about 6:30 am. Tuesday.

State police at Schuylkill Haven said Christopher E. Kuhar, 31, of Mountaintop, was driving a 1994 Mack west on Summer Valley Road when he went through a red light at the intersection and struck the rear passenger’s side of a tractor-trailer being driven north on Route 61 by Brendan M. Kehoe, 29, of Reading.

Police said Kuhar will be cited for a traffic control violation as a result of the crash.

Police investigate

crash in Frackville

FRACKVILLE — Frackville Police investigated a one-vehicle crash that happened in the 200 block of North Lehigh Avenue about 6:15 p.m. Tuesday.

Police said Joseph M. Bergman Jr., 59, of 441 W. Mahanoy Ave., Girardville, was driving a 2005 Dodge Caravan south when he looked to the left at another vehicle and went off of the road, hitting a Dumpster owned by Kreitzer Sanitation.

Police said Bergman and his passenger — Tiffany R. Bergman, 23, also of 441 W. Mahanoy Ave., Girardville — escaped injury and police said Joseph Bergman will be cited for careless driving and not driving on roadways laned for traffic.

Woman charged

for tire slashing

GILBERTON — A Shenandoah woman was charged with criminal mischief by state police at Frackville after an incident at 4 Main St. about 10 p.m. Monday.

Police said Crystal Blackwell will have to answer to the charge before Magisterial District Judge Christina E. Hale, Frackville.

It was determined that Blackwell slashed tires on two different vehicles owned by her ex-boyfriend, Jonathan D. Blank, Gilberton, police said.

Thief sought after stealing from car

State police at Schuylkill Haven are investigating a theft from a vehicle that happened at 26 Tall Oaks Drive, Norwegian Woods, in Norwegian Township between 8 p.m. Tuesday and 8 a.m. Wednesday.

Police said John Mercuri reported someone removed various gift cards and money from his unlocked vehicle while it was parked in the driveway of his home.

Police ask that anyone with information to contact them at 570-739-1330 and also remind all residents to lock their vehicles at all times.

Man cited in Pine Grove crash

PINE GROVE — A 22-year-old Pine Grove man escaped injury when the 2011 Dodge Nitro he was driving crashed on Geary Wolf Road, just south of Mexico Road in Pine Grove Township, about 6:40 a.m. July 21.

State police at Schuylkill Haven said Brock D. Natale Jr. was driving south when he failed to negotiate a right curve, crossed over the northbound lane, went off of the road and hit a large rock. The vehicle the continued south and struck a tree, mailbox and a concrete wall, police said.

Police said Natale will be cited for not driving on roadways laned for traffic and that Pine Grove EMS and Ravine firefighters assisted at the scene.

Woman charged

after argument

WILLIAMSTOWN — A 35-year-old Williamstown woman was charged with harassment after an incident at 348 E. Market St. in this Dauphin County community about 11:50 p.m. Tuesday.

State police at Lykens said Jennifer Vaughn will have to answer to the charge before Magisterial District Judge Rebecca Margerum, Elizbethville.

Police said Vaughn was charged after she pushed Sherry Bixler, 43, of Williamstown during a verbal argument.

Man charged for

not leaving house

WICONISCO — State police at Lykens have filed charges against a 57-year-old Wiconisco man after an incident at 215B Pottsville St. in Wiconisco Township, Dauphin County, around 4:25 a.m. July 24.

Troopers said William Acker will have to answer to the charge before Magisterial District Judge Rebecca Margerum, Elizbethville.

Troopers said Acker went into the home of Joseph Corwin, 59, where he was not wanted despite being a previous friend.

Acker, troopers said, was told numerous time to leave before Corwin contacted authorities.

SUMMIT STATION — Students from the county 4-H and Future Farmers of America competed for the title of Master Showman on Friday at the Schuylkill County Fair.

Seventeen students were selected to compete after they were named champion showman of their species. The potential future farmers had to show five animals — a dairy cow, market hog, lamb, goat and dairy beef. They were judged on their demonstrated ability by Doug Masser, who previously showed animals at the fair. The animals were chosen at random by Gretchen Dingman, vice president of the fair and the Tri-Valley FFA.

There were three divisions: junior, ages 8 to 12; intermediate, 13 to 15; and senior, 16 and older. The winners received a jacket and a ribbon.

Kellan Masser, 18, of Klingerstown, was named Senior Master Livestock Showman. He previously won the intermediate and junior divisions.

He said it was up to him to bring out the best in the animal for the show.

“Keep your animal between yourself and the judge and make good eye contact,” Masser said.

John Mease, Pine Grove, was declared the intermediate class and Casmira Keller, Orwigsburg, won the junior division.

Elsewhere around the fair, families and friends celebrated Country Day.

Ben Gruber, 4, of Auburn, rode a small John Deere tractor.

“Ben is a tractor fanatic,” his mother, Heather Gruber, said.

Heather Gruber said they were at the fair to show animals.

“Our entire summer is consumed for preparing the animals for the shows,” she said. The family brought steers and market hogs, among other animals, to the fair.

The family has a farm in Auburn and also rents land. On their farm, they have Black Angus cattle and British White Park cattle, which they raise and sell. They also have dairy goats, chickens and alpacas.

Farming is hard work, Heather Gruber said.

“It’s a labor of love. If it’s not in your blood, you will never survive. It’s something you have to love to do,” she said.

Other activities at the fair included watching a threshing machine, which separates grain; an Appalachian Pet Farm and large inflatable balls at the Knockerball stand.

Renee Snyder, 46, of Tower City, her husband, Jim, 46, and their daughter, Sarah, 17, planned to stay at the fair long enough to get their fill of fun. Renee said she enjoys the fair.

“We will be here again next year,” she said.

Paul Kennedy, president of the Schuylkill County Fair, said attendance was excellent but official numbers were not available Friday night.

The 32nd annual fair continues today with Family Fun Day.

WILKES-BARRE — She is safe and he is in jail. The Amber Alert is over.

Police found Jenea Patterson, 16, of Wilkes-Barre, who was kidnapped at gunpoint in front of her home late Thursday night, unharmed early Saturday morning in the Wilkes-Barre General Hospital parking garage.

Patterson was with Walter Lewis, 21, the man who allegedly abducted her, according to police.

Wilkes-Barre police and U.S. Marshals, acting on a tip, found Lewis and Patterson in the hospital’s parking garage, near River Street, shortly after midnight. Officers took Lewis into custody following a foot chase and a brief struggle, during which Lewis threw a weapon to the ground, police said in a news release.

Patterson was taken to Wilkes-Barre police headquarters, where she was released into the custody of her parents, Cyndi Angeles, Wilkes-Barre and James Patterson, Kingston. Both parents confirmed that Jenea Patterson was not harmed physically in the 25 hours after Lewis, her ex-boyfriend, allegedly dragged her away from her Mineral Springs home.

“I was just happy to hear my child was alive,” Angeles said.

James Patterson said that when he spoke with his daughter at the police station, she told him, “I just want to go home.”

Jenea Patterson was home, safe and resting, on Saturday, her mother said.

Lewis was incarcerated at Luzerne County Correctional Facility. He was arraigned Saturday morning on charges of kidnapping, simple assault, terroristic threats and reckless endangerment, through the office of Magisterial District Judge Martin Kane. His bail is set at $250,000, according to court records.

Police, in a criminal complaint, allege that Lewis surprised Patterson as she drove up to her home in a friend’s car about 11 p.m. Lewis pointed a handgun at the car, demanded that Patterson get out, pistol-whipped the driver of the car, grabbed Patterson and fired two shots from the gun to stop anyone from coming to Patterson’s aid as he dragged her away, police allege.

Angeles had filed for an emergency Protection from Abuse order against Lewis on behalf of her daughter last week, stating that Lewis had assaulted Jenea Patterson and threatened the family if Patterson did not get back together with him.

The Amber Alert police issued on Friday, which flashed photos of Patterson and Lewis on highway billboards, was canceled Saturday morning.

Police did not release many details of Lewis’s capture, but a Wilkes-Barre General Hospital spokeswoman confirmed that Lewis was taken into custody on hospital property, after a hospital security officer saw Patterson and Lewis and realized Lewis fit the description of the suspect in the Amber Alert.

The case attracted nationwide attention on Friday, as news of the Amber Alert was widely shared on social media.

It also kept police and other law enforcement officials busy all day Friday into Friday night.

Local, state, county and federal agencies joined forces to find Patterson and arrest Lewis, according to Luzerne County District Attorney Stefanie Salavantis.

“This was everybody working together,” Salavantis said. “This was a very serious crime that was committed.”

Law enforcement agencies involved in the search for Patterson included Wilkes-Barre police, state police, Luzerne County detectives, U.S Marshals and the FBI, she said.

Salavantis said she could not comment on whether police have found or plan to charge two men who were seen with Lewis during the alleged kidnapping Thursday night.

A preliminary hearing for Lewis is scheduled for Aug. 13.

Jenea Patterson’s parents, in separate interviews on Saturday, expressed relief over their daughter’s safe return and thanked law enforcement for finding her safely. They both spoke of the joy they felt when a detective called them to say their daughter was safe and waiting at the police station.

“Jenea is doing well,” Angeles said, as her daughter slept on Saturday afternoon.

“She’s going to be fine,” Angeles added. “She just needs to work things out.”

When asked about Lewis, who was charged with assaulting Jenea Patterson last October and who police describe as having no fixed home, Angeles paused.

“I’m just happy he is where he is,” she said, after confirming Lewis was in jail.

He could be there for a long time. If convicted of kidnapping, a first-degree felony, Lewis could face up to 20 years in prison.

James Patterson was overwhelmed with relief that his daughter was safe. He also said that, while he warned Jenea repeatedly to stay away from Lewis, he can only feel sorry for the man he calls “a lost child.”

“The only thing I would say to him is I feel sorry for him because he’s lost; he’s 21 with the mind of a 15-year-old,” Patterson said. “I pray for the guy, that he can get his life together.”

The biggest key to preventing young people from winding up as criminals or victims of criminals is good parenting, Patterson said. He blamed himself, in part, for some of the issues his daughter has faced since he and Angeles split about six years ago.

For divorced parents, it’s especially important that both support the other in matters that impact the children, he said.

“I blame both of us,” he said. “Poor parenting leads up to this. If both parents are not together, if they are not on the same page, there are going to be problems.”

Jenea Patterson will be fine, eventually, but right now she “needs love and counseling,” James Patterson said.

“It’s going to take a lot of love and a lot of patience,” he said.

The spiritual leader of the Catholic Archdiocese of Lviv of the Latins in Ukraine had an important message to the faithful in Frackville and Shenandoah on Saturday during his visit to churches in both boroughs.

Archbishop Mieczyslaw Mokrzycki, 54, who was the personal secretary for Pope St. John Paul II, was concelebrant at Masses in the Roman Catholic churches of St. Ann in Frackville and St. Casimir in Shenandoah as part of a visit to the Diocese of Allentown.

Mokrzycki, who speaks little English, was assisted by his assistant and translator Szymon Czyszek, who traveled with the archbishop and his personal secretary, Monsignor Andrzej Legowicz, to the United States.

“Rest assured, my dear brothers and sisters, that our dear John Paul hears you, sees you, helps us, and is more help now that ever before,” Czyszek said in translating the homily at both churches. “St. John Paul II, pray for us.”

Mokrzycki arrived in Frackville about 20 minutes after 4 p.m. for Mass with the Rev. Robert T. Finlan, pastor as the main celebrant. Due to the delay, Finlan led prayers and provided the opportunity to everyone to venerate a first class relic of the sainted pope that has been in the church since last year. Finlan held the reliquary that contained the relic so that people could venerate it by kissing or touching the reliquary.

During the veneration, Mokrzycki arrived and vested for Mass, in which he was a concelebrant with Legowicz and the Rev. Edmund Brennan, Girardville. Members of the Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus Schuylkill Assembly 0923 provided the honor guard.

Mokrzycki is a native of Poland and has been archbishop of Lviv since 2008. As a monsignor, he was a personal secretary to Pope John Paul II from 1996 until the pope’s death in 2005. He continued as a personal secretary to Pope Benedict XVI until the pope ordained him as bishop in 2007, appointed him as coadjutor-archbishop of Lviv that same year and installed him as Lviv’s archbishop on Nov. 21, 2008.

The archbishop has written a book on the sainted pope entitled “He Liked Tuesdays Best,” which was published in 2011.

When Mass concluded, Mokrzycki and his entourage drove to Shenandoah and St. Casimir Church, where they were greeted by Monsignor Ronald C. Bocian, pastor and main celebrant. In addition to Legowicz, other concelebrants were Monsignor Myron Grabowsky, pastor of St. Michael the Archangel Ukrainian Catholic Church, Shenandoah, and the Rev. Johnson Kochuparambil, who leads the Hispanic ministry in Divine Mercy Parish, of which St. Casimir Church is a sacred worship site.

When the clergy and altar servers processed to the altar when Mass began, Mokrzycki presented Bocian with a first class relic of the pope. Mokrzycki made the presentation in Polish, with Czyszek reading the following translation:

“Last year we witnessed the canonization of Pope John Paul II. As his personal secretary, and now Archbishop of Lviv, in the presence of the priests gathered here and all the People of God, I solemnly present a part of the holy relics of Saint John Paul II to the Divine Mercy Parish in Shenandoah. May its constant presence in this church become a seal, emphasizing the unity of the Holy Church gathered around the successor of Peter and the unity of prayer.

“Reverend Pastor, please accept this relic, surround it with reverence and present it to the faithful for veneration. Let everyone pray before the relic, through the intercession of Saint John Paul II, receive an abundance of grace and that they may follow him in faith and zeal.

“Saint John Paul II, pray for us.”

A first class relic consists of a part of the saint, such a bone or hair, or something identified from the Passion of Jesus Christ, such as a part of the Cross. The relic accepted by Bocian was a lock of hair, as is the relic at St. Ann’s.

During the homily in both churches, Mokrzycki spoke briefly in Polish, then allowed the translator to read a more lengthy portion of the homily.

“John Paul II was an example of sincere humanity and profound spirituality, the teacher and witness of an unbreakable faith,” Czyszek read. “He was constantly in search of the truth, and was truly an authentic follower of our Lord Jesus.”

Much of the homily related to Mokrzycki’s nine years Pope John Paul’s secretary.

“For me as personal secretary, John Paul was an extraordinary man,” Mokrzycki said in the homily. “He was so many ways like us, yet at the same time so different. I think that what put him in another category was his attitude, his behavior, his way of speaking, his actions. Being close to him, one sensed peace, security, goodness.”

Mokrzycki has a great devotion to Divine Mercy and to Father Walter J. Ciszek, S.J., the Shenandoah native whose cause for canonization is being investigated in the Catholic Church.

A second collection at both churches was accepted to help the Catholic church in Ukraine.

After Mass, Mokrzycki was taken to the new home of the Bernardine Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis in the former St. Stephen Church rectory. The sisters moved last year to their new home after the convent next to St. Casimir Church, which also contained the Ciszek Center, was scheduled for demolition early this year due to structural issue.

Mokrzycki then went to visit St. Michael Ukrainian Catholic Church in Shenandoah, the first Greek Catholic church in the country at the invitation of Grabowsky. He returned to Frackville to enjoy the St. Joseph Parish block party, held on the grounds of St. Ann Church.

The archbishop will concelebrate Mass at 9:15 a.m. today at St. John the Baptist Church in Allentown and will concelebrate the Mass at noon at the Cathedral of Saint Catharine of Siena with Diocese of Allentown Bishop John O. Barres. Mokrzycki will present Barres with a first class relic.

ASHLAND — Two cousins escaped a two-alarm fire in the borough late Friday night.

“When I got there, it was a working fire,” Ashland fire Chief Phillip Groody said Saturday of the fire at 305 Middle St.

Firefighters arrived within minutes of the 11:47 p.m. fire and Groody called for a second alarm to fight the fire, which was knocked down in about 20 minutes and under control in about an hour. He said the flames were visible upon arrival. The fire appeared to have started in the living room, which is to the front of the apartment, which had four rooms and was above a garage.

“It’s going to be accidental. It’s not suspicious. It appears to be electrical,” he said.

He will call the state police at Frackville today and request a state fire marshal, which is routine procedure, he said.

“The room where the fire started was completely destroyed by the fire,” Groody said, adding the other three rooms had smoke and heat damage.

Damage to the apartment is “going to be $20,000 to $30,000,” he said.

He did not hear smoke detectors going off when they arrived but Groody said he later found the remains of one.

The Tri County Red Cross provided food, shelter, and clothing to Ken Wayne, the resident of the fire. His cousin, Michael Wayne, was visiting him when the fire occurred and he went back to Girardville. Ken Wayne’s cat perished in the fire.

The Ashland Fire Department, and firefighters from Girardville, Altamont, Englewood, Gordon, Columbia from Shenandoah, Citizens from Mahanoy City and Anthracite fire department from Mount Carmel responded to the scene. EMS units also responded.

FOUNTAIN SPRINGS — Alumni and friends of the former Cardinal Brennan Junior-Senior High School will have the opportunity to tour the campus in early September.

The North Schuylkill School District has scheduled the open house from noon to 2 p.m. Sept. 5. Residents of the North Schuylkill community and alumni of Cardinal Brennan are encouraged to visit the campus and tour the buildings.

The North Schuylkill school board approved the purchase of the 95.3-acre property for $825,000 from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Allentown at its Jan. 21 meeting. When the purchase was announced at the meeting, board President Charles Hepler said in a statement that the CB campus would provide room to deal with lack of space in the existing high school and elementary buildings and provide additional facilities for sports programs.

The religious items in the school have been removed by the diocese.

District Superintendent Robert Ackell said last week that the district has received requests to open the campus.

“There were a few requests at the beginning when we first purchased it, and we just thought it would be a great idea,” Ackell said. “At the end of the school year, we took our teaching staff there to go for a tour and that was very positive. They enjoyed seeing it, especially those teachers who are alumni of Cardinal Brennan. It brought back memories.”

Ackell added, “It’s just a great outreach to our community.”

The selection of Sept. 5 was made since it is Labor Day weekend and people will be visiting the area because of the holiday.

“We were going to do it over the July 4 holiday, but there was too much going on,” Ackell said. “We thought to wait until school starts and the Labor Day weekend when we’ll have the most people in the area.”

Ackell said there has been some work done at the campus, but nothing major at this point since the concentration has been the renovations and upgrades at the high school building and expansion at the elementary school building.

“We’ve been cleaning it out and going through some of the stuff that was left behind,” Ackell explained. “We have been using the fields and the field house. We moved our weight room up there for the athletic teams, and we’re using the gym right now. The (classroom) building hasn’t been really touched other than cleanup.”

Ackell said there are no immediate plans as to the future use of the classroom building.

The school’s history goes back to 1927 when Immaculate Heart Academy opened under the direction of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary as an all-girl school. In 1952, the school was changed to a co-educational diocesan high school and became Immaculate Heart High School, and in 1956, it took in students from St. Joseph High School in Ashland and St. Joseph High School in Girardville, the year both schools closed.

The school had a name change in 1968 with the merger of Immaculate Heart High School and Shenandoah Catholic High School, becoming Cardinal Brennan High School. It was named after Francis Cardinal Brennan, a Shenandoah native, who was created a cardinal by Pope Paul VI on June 26, 1967, one day after he was ordained a bishop. The ordination to bishop was necessary since Brennan had been a priest when he was selected to be a cardinal.

On Jan. 15, 1968, he was named prefect of the Congregation for the Discipline of the Sacraments, the highest post in the Roman Curia ever held by an American at that time. Cardinal Brennan died July 2, 1968, and did not have the opportunity to visit the school named after him.

The school was closed by the diocese at the end of the 2006-07 school year.

SUMMIT STATION — People gathered to toss toilet paper, hurl hay bales and present pocket pets Saturday at the Schuylkill County Fair.

Dustin Bouchard, 8, of Pottsville, took first place in the pocket pets contest. The event featured small family pets and was part of Family Fun Day. Bouchard said he wanted his ferret, Bandit, to “see lots of nature.”

Judge Kim Morgan, who is also fair secretary, asked Bouchard how Bandit keeps cool in the hot weather. While at the fair, he said bandit stays in the shade unless it gets too hot, then he goes in the family’s air-conditioned camper.

Bouchard said his 3-year-old ferret likes to crawl in stinky shoes and items shaped like tubes.

Hailey Blatt, 7, of Robesonia, Lebanon County, placed second in the event. She had two hamsters, three hermit crabs, a gerbil and a guinea pig.

A popular event on Saturday was the hay bale toss. Morgan said the bales are marked by where they landed, not how far it rolls.

Contestants competed in three age groups — 4 and younger, 5 to 9 and 10 and older. The Schuylkill County Fair royalty also took a turn throwing the bales. Queen Megan Ditzler, Schuylkill Haven, Princess Madeline Schuettler, Pottsville, and Little Miss Julie Beth Wychunas, Orwigsburg, each won an award in their age group.

Marshmallows also took flight at the fair, as children built catapults out of popsicle sticks and rubber bands to launch the sugary treat as far as they could. During the event, state Rep. Mike Tobash, R-125. and Linda Gallo Marchalk, candidate for county treasurer, tried to catch the marshmallows in their mouths. Neither succeeded.

Other activities on Saturday included a toilet paper toss and a water balloon toss. Ditzler and Schuettler won the water balloon toss in their age group. Wychunas and Tyler Lutz, Shoemakersville, won the younger division.

Paul Kennedy, president of the Schuylkill County Fair, said the fair had good attendance over the last couple days. On Friday, attendance was 5,069 compared to 2,481 in 2014, a 52 percent increase. He attributes the increase to good weather and the entertainment, Bucky Covington.

SAINT CLAIR — A local business did its part to make sure children are prepared for the upcoming school year.

The Cellular Connection Verizon Wireless store, 400 Terry Rich Blvd., had 200 backpacks to give to children. As of about 6:50 p.m. Saturday, 150 were given away to local children. The giveaway is made possible by the donations from the community, store employees and TCC, Cristy Lucia, sales manager for the store, said.

More than 400 TCC stores participated and were to give away 100,000 backpacks.

“We care very much for our customers, and our employees,” she said, adding they also care for the community.

This is one way they can give back, she said. The remaining backpacks at the store will be given away until they are gone, Lucia said. Backpacks were available to any child who came by the store and could mean a lot to those with limited funds.

Hayden Daubert, 11, and Jackson Daubert, 7, both of Pottsville, said they appreciate the backpacks, notebook, folder, ruler and other school supplies. The brothers both like math and attend Assumption BVM school in Pottsville.

Upon showing their grandmother, Dorothy Daubert, Pottsville, what the generosity of others provided, Daubert was impressed.

“That’s good. You can use all those things,” she said.

Daubert said she buys them school supplies in addition to what their parents do. The book bags will also be put to good use. Their current book bags are getting old, she said.

Gabe Henry, 12, of Saint Clair, came into the store Saturday to get some much-needed supplies for school so he does not have to buy as much.

Alex Mercuri, Frackville, was thankful to save a few dollars by getting the school supplies Saturday for his son and niece.

“We were here last year. It was good. They actually helped out a lot,” he said about the supplies.

Lucia said this is the third or fourth year for the giveaway.

“I’m looking forward to growing it so it gets even bigger,” she said.

Crash on I-81

causes 2nd crash

FRACKVILLE — State police at Frackville investigated a crash that involved three tractor-trailers and a passenger vehicle about 12:30 p.m. Thursday in the northbound lanes of Interstate 81, at mile marker 126.2 in Ryan Township.

Police said Johnny Masters, 43, of Piedmont, South Carolina, was driving a 2015 Kenworth when he came to a stop in the right northbound lane to avoid hitting a Ford Explorer that crashed on the bridge. Mark Foore, 46, of Carlisle, stopped his 2016 Volvo tractor-trailer behind Masters with his emergency flashers on as Sandra Bond, 76, of Bernville was slowing her 2014 Cadillac to a stop behind the Foore truck.

At that time, police said, Raymond Cook, 54, of Tunkhannock, was driving a 2009 Kenworth north when Bond decided to pull into the passing lane to pass the other two trucks, forcing Cook to apply his brakes to avoid hitting the woman and also steered toward a narrow gap between the Cook vehicle and the Foore truck.

The front of the Cook truck struck the rear right corner of the Bond vehicle and the left rear corner of the Foore truck, causing him to further lose control as his load began to shift, police said.

The Cook truck continued north damaging the entire left side of the Foore truck, swerved to the right and struck the back of the trailer being pulled by Masters and then a bridge railing, police said.

Part of a load of lumber that Cook was carrying then spilled onto the road.

All four drivers and a passenger in the Bond vehicle, Earl Bond, 76, also of Bernville, escaped injury and police said the northbound lanes of the interstate were closed for about three hours while the lumber was cleared from the road and vehicles removed.

The crash that Masters stopped for occurred as Kareen Lateef Hough, 39, of Hudson, was driving the Ford Explorer north with completely bald tires when the SUV began to fishtail in a rainstorm and then went into a full spin, police said.

The SUV then struck a concrete bridge and came to a stop, police said, adding that Hough and her passenger, Bryan Pearl, 35, of Wernersville, were not hurt. As a result of the crash, police said Hough will be cited for equipment violations and for driving with a suspended license.

4 face charges

in Rush Township

HOMETOWN — Rush Township police reported the details of four incidents that happened recently in their coverage area.

Police said Glenn Zehner, 58, of Tamaqua, is facing charges of DUI and other offenses after he was involved in a fight about 2:20 p.m. June 14 on Mahanoy Avenue.

George Oliver Jr., 37, of Lehighton, is facing charges of DUI and other traffic offenses after a vehicle stop on Claremont Avenue about 10:40 p.m. July 3. Police said a subsequent blood test came back positive for marijuana.

A Philadelphia man is facing charges of DUI, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia after an incident about 12:30 a.m. July 4. Police said that after officers stopped Mark Griggen Jr., 19, on Claremont Avenue, a subsequent blood test determined he had marijuana in his system.

Finally, police said Justine Sumon, 39, of Nesquehoning, is facing charges after an accident on Claremont Avenue around 4:05 p.m. July 21.

Police said Simon was driving a 1998 Jeep Cherokee south when she struck a southbound Ford van and left the scene.

The woman later admitted to the crash and is facing charges of hit-and-run and other offenses, police said, adding that no injuries were reported.

Police: Vandals hit

flowers, mailbox

DEER LAKE — State police at Schuylkill Haven are investigating a criminal mischief incident that occurred between 10 p.m. July 17 and 7:50 a.m. July 18 at Overlook Terrace.

Police said James E. Bosak reported someone pulled flowers out of the ground and damaged a mailbox on his property before fleeing the area on foot.

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

Haven driver

injured in crash

ORWIGSBURG — One person was injured in a two-vehicle crash that occurred about 6:45 a.m. Thursday on Route 61, near Red Church Road in West Brunswick Township.

State police at Schuylkill Haven said Lyndsi M. Moyer, 20, of Schuylkill Haven, was driving a 2000 Subaru Impreza south when he ran into the back of a 2009 Dodge Ram driven by Eric A. Mitchell, 21, of Auburn, who was stopped at a traffic light in an active work zone.

Moyer was hurt in the crash while Mitchell and his passenger, Christopher Wagner, 32, of Pottsville, escaped injury.

Police said Moyer will be charged with driving at an unsafe speed. Schuylkill EMS assisted at the scene.

Man faces hit-run

charges in crash

WILLIAM PENN — A Ringtown man escaped injury when the 2003 Dodge Grand Caravan he was driving crashed about 3:30 p.m. Wednesday on Route 54, Mount Olive Boulevard, just west of Upper Road in West Mahanoy Township.

State police at Frackville said Francis J. Layton, 25, was driving east and claimed a suspension failure caused him to lost control of his van that then crossed the westbound lane, grazed a utility pole and continued into a grassy area where it struck a tree head on.

Police said Layton fled the area on foot but was picked up a short distance away and initially falsely reported someone else was driving the vehicle.

Video images from the security system on a nearby building shows Layton as the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle, police said, adding that the man will be charged with numerous charges including hit and run, driving with a suspended license and false statement to police.