A Shenandoah man went free Monday after a Schuylkill County judge dismissed four charges that he had violated his Megan’s Law reporting restrictions.

John J. Guman, 53, had been charged with two counts each of failing to register with the Pennsylvania State Police and failure to verify address or be photographed.

However, before the trial started, Judge Cyrus Palmer Dolbin dismissed the charges, ruling prosecutors could not prove that Guman had knowledge that he had to register under Megan’s Law.

“I have to dismiss the case,” Dolbin told the jury.

Shenandoah police had charged Guman with failing to register on Jan. 27.

Also on Monday, a jury deliberated less than an hour before finding John B. Dreher, 52, of Reading, guilty of driving under the influence.

Judge John E. Domalakes, who presided over Dreher’s one-day trial, found him guilty of driving under suspension, failure to keep right and careless driving, but not guilty of disregarding traffic lanes. He ordered preparation of a presentence investigation, scheduled sentencing for 9:30 a.m. Oct. 9 and allowed the defendant to remain free on $15,000 percentage bail.

State police at Schuylkill Haven alleged Dreher was DUI on April 17, 2014, in West Brunswick Township. Prosecutors said Dreher had a blood alcohol level of 0.225 percent; the legal limit for driving in Pennsylvania is 0.08 percent.

Trooper Daniel P. Hillbish, the prosecuting officer, testified Dreher had an odor of alcohol and bloodshot eyes.

Assistant District Attorney Kimm M. Montone prosecuted the case, while Thomas J. “Tim” Pellish, Pottsville, represented Dreher.

Also on Monday, another jury deliberated about 30 minutes before finding John A. Gallagher Jr., 61, of Scotrun, not guilty of simple assault.

Pottsville police had charged Gallagher, who smiled and gave a thumbs-up gesture to the jury after it announced its verdict, with assaulting Corrections Officer Dean Reeves about 2:45 p.m. Feb. 17 at Schuylkill County Prison, where the defendant was an inmate.

“He charged me,” Reeves testified. “He bit down on my finger.”

District Attorney Christine A. Holman prosecuted the case, while Assistant Public Defender Andrea L. Thompson represented Gallagher.

To continue the “Campus Integration” at Schuylkill Health in Pottsville, M. Michael Peckman, the organization’s director of public relations, said the hospital system is planning to go into debt.

It’s seeking a series of bonds to finance a multifaceted renovation project which could cost $20 million, according to a legal notice written by the Pottsville Hospital Authority and published in the Aug. 19 edition of the newspaper.

The authority is planning to pledge its support by serving as the issuing agency and allowing the hospital system to acquire the bonds tax free. A public hearing on the matter is slated for 8 a.m. Sept. 3 at council chambers, second floor, city hall, according to the notice.

Hospital officials did not want to discuss the project prior to the hearing, Peckman said Friday.

“At this point, we don’t want to do an interview prior to the hearing. We want to be respectful to the hospital authority and give our testimony at the hearing and not prior to,” Peckman said.

Immediately following the hearing, the authority will hold a special meeting to take action on the bond financing. The authority may approve a bond resolution “approving among other things the issuance of its Health Center Revenue Bonds in one or more series of tax-exempt or taxable bonds in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $20,000,000,” according to a second notice published in the Aug. 19 edition of the newspaper.

“This resolution will then be considered and adopted by city council at a later city council meeting,” David H. Rattigan, the hospital authority’s solicitor, said Monday.

City Administrator Thomas A. Palamar said Monday council may take action on the matter at its next meeting, 6 p.m. Sept. 14 at city hall.

At the public hearing on the morning of Sept. 3, hospital officials will discuss the proposed project.

According to the legal notice, the applicants are: Schuylkill Health System, 400 S. Jackson St.; Schuylkill Medical Center–East Norwegian Street, 700 E. Norwegian St.; Schuylkill Medical Center–South Jackson Street, 420 S. Jackson St.; and Schuylkill Rehabilitation Center, 300 Schuylkill Medical Plaza.

The project involves “the design, acquisition, construction, reconstruction, renovation, rehabilitation, improvement, furnishing and equipping of real and personal property of the applicants,” according to the notice.

The “renovation, rehabilitation and improvement to the emergency room, the intensive care unit, and the radiology, pediatrics and obstetrics departments” are part of the plan, according to the notice.

So is “the acquisition and installation of furnishings, equipment and information technology and facilities,” according to the notice.

In a letter to the editor published June 15, Peckman offered insights into Schuylkill Health’s plans.

“Schuylkill Health is not closing a hospital. We will continue to use both facilities and have publicly shared that both hospitals will: remain open, offer the same services that we currently provide, but in different locations, introduce new services such as Convenient Care/Urgent Care, operate under a single license, and provide room for future growth and expansion,” Peckman said in the letter.

“We recognize that it is not in the best interest of those we serve to have two, full-service hospitals less than a half mile apart. It makes much more sense to integrate our services in a way that points us to the future while better delivering our services today,” Peckman said in the letter.

The City of Pottsville Hospital Authority was established in February 1980 as a vehicle for floating tax-free municipal bonds for financing additional construction to local hospitals, according to the newspaper’s archives.

The mayor at the time, Robert L. Allen, promised that the city and its taxpayers would not be liable in any way if a hospital should default on bond payments, according to a Feb. 13, 1980, story in The Pottsville Republican.

The hospital authority’s budget is financed by Schuylkill Health.

“The budget is adopted annually by the board based upon actual costs,” Rattigan said.

For example, in 2014, the hospital authority’s budget was $13,950. Expenditures were: auditor, $3,000; solicitor, $2,400; liability insurance, $3,000; postage and supplies, $150; advertising, legal notices, $200; rent and administrative salaries, $5,000; and miscellaneous, $200, according to a copy of the authority’s 2014 budget provided by Rattigan.

On Monday, Rattigan — who has been the hospital authority’s solicitor since 1985 — and the city solicitor, Thomas “Tim” Pellish, described how the hospital authority works:

• The hospital authority is required by the Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982 to hold public hearings regarding bond resolutions.

• Once the hospital authority approves a bond resolution, the city council must give the resolution its stamp of approval. “In addition to the TEFRA hearing and approval of the hospital authority, the Internal Revenue Code requires that the city council consider the project and make a finding that it is desirable for the health, safety and welfare of the people in the area served by the Schuylkill Health System to have the project provided by and financed through the authority. This resolution is considered and adopted by city council at a later city council meeting,” Rattigan said.

• To complete the bond financing, the hospital and the hospital authority work with bond counsel and the counsel of the bond underwriters to determine and comply with tax-exempt financing eligibility requirements. “There is underwriting, a private offering memorandum, loan documents and underwriters then market the bonds and find investors to purchase the bonds. The underwriter purchases the bonds under a bond purchase agreement for primarily institutional investors who acquire bonds through the underwriters in various denominations, amounts. The net proceeds are held by the bond trustee and then disbursed to the hospital for use to pay the costs of issuance and then for the Project costs as it progresses. Some amounts go into a debt service reserve fund,” Rattigan said.

• While the proceeds of the bond are used to finance the hospital’s projects, the interest paid on the bond is given to the bond holder tax free, according to the Internal Revenue Code. “Because federal income tax does not have to be paid on the interest payments received by the bondholders, the interest rate paid on the hospital bonds can be lower than a taxable interest rate,” Rattigan said.

• There is no interest payment to the hospital authority.

• “Schuylkill Health System pays all costs related to the issuance of the bonds and all fees and costs out of the bond proceeds or otherwise,” Rattigan said.

• “The bond documents require that annually Schuylkill Health pays and reimburses the hospital authority all its annual administration costs and fees,” Rattigan said.

• “The hospital revenue bonds are nonrecourse obligations and are payable solely out of the revenues of and other collateral provided by Schuylkill Health System. Neither the Hospital Authority nor the city of Pottsville are obligated to make payments on the bonds,” Rattigan said.

• “Tax free bonds do come through the hospital authority with no financial responsibility to the authority,” Pellish said.

In 2013, the authority and the city council decided to help Schuylkill Health refinance $35 million in Health Center Revenue Bonds, loans taken in 1998 and 2009, according to Rattigan.

Schuylkill Health has been working to pay off those debts and in June the combined balance was $29,765,000, Rattigan said.

When asked for a current figure, Rattigan said Monday it’s “close” to that.

The hospital authority’s current members include: George F. Halcovage Jr., chairman; and members Joseph Brahler, Dr. Christina M. DiCello, Heidi Eckert, Diana Gabardi, Joanne Hively, Susan Jochems, Michael Muncy and Judy Schweich.

They “traditionally waive compensation and serve without compensation,” Rattigan said.

NORRISTOWN — A judge on Monday ruled there is sufficient evidence to send state Attorney General Kathleen G. Kane to trial on charges she leaked secret grand jury information, then lied about her actions.

Montgomery County District Magistrate Judge Cathleen Kelly Rebar issued the ruling following a roughly four-hour preliminary hearing held at the Montgomery County Courthouse.

Kane was charged Aug. 6 with perjury, false swearing, obstructing the administration of justice, official oppression and conspiracy. She is scheduled to be arraigned on the counts in Montgomery County Court on Oct. 14.

Accompanied by several people, including her twin sister, Ellen Granahan, Kane quickly entered and exited the courthouse Monday, ignoring questions shouted by the media.

Prosecutors, led by Montgomery County First Assistant District Attorney Kevin Steele, presented two witnesses: David Peifer, special agent in charge of special investigations, and Montgomery County Detective Paul Bradbury.

Peifer detailed discussions he had with Kane regarding an interview he conducted in 2014 of one of the agents that worked on the 2009 grand jury investigation of J. Whyatt Mondesire, Philadelphia. He testified he took a copy of a transcript of that interview to a meeting he had with Kane and several other people on March 25, 2014. He left the transcript — which was among the documents leaked to the Philadelphia Daily News in 2014 — with Kane, he said.

Peifer also said he brought a copy of a 2009 memorandum written to Frank Fina, a former prosecutor who worked on the Mondesire case, to that meeting. That document was also leaked to the newspaper, which ran a story detailing the Mondesire probe of June 6, 2014.

Bradbury recounted information several other witnesses provided in testimony before the grand jury and subsequent interviews with investigators, including Bruce Beemer, who currently serves as Kane’s first deputy attorney general.

Beemer’s testimony is crucial to one of the perjury allegations against Kane — that she lied when she said she never saw the 2009 memo to Fina prior to her testimony before the grand jury in November 2014.

Bradbury said Beemer recounted a phone conversation he had with Kane on July 28, 2014, in which they discussed the memorandum. He said he was certain she had read it because they debated whether or not the memo contained secret grand jury information.

The detective said Kane was arguing that the memo was a summary of the evidence in the grand jury case, therefore it should not be considered grand jury information. Beemer said he was taken aback by Kane’s position.

“I was trying to figure out in my head how we would handle it because it was clearly grand jury information,” Beemer said, according to Bradbury.

Kane’s defense team, led by attorney Gerald Shargel, raised several objections, all of which were overruled. Speaking after the hearing, Shargel said he expected the case would head to county court as the level of proof at the preliminary hearing stage is very low.

“We are looking forward to trial and I fully expect an acquittal,” he said

Police jail 2 for

roles in car theft

Two men were jailed after being taken into custody in connection with an incident that was reported about 9:30 a.m. Aug. 13 at 1712 W. Norwegian St.

Police said officers were called for a report of a stolen vehicle and learned that a black 2010 Mercedes-Benz was stolen while it was parked in front of the home between 3 and 8:30 a.m.

Clayton and Billie Jean Andrews, owners of the vehicle, said they were certain the vehicle was parked outside their home about 3 a.m. and that the keys were inside their house.

The two also said they suspected Jack David Rose, 18, of Pottsville, due to past incidents involving him and the car when he briefly lived at their home in the past.

During a subsequent investigation, it was learned through multiple interviews that about 4 a.m. Rose was with Matrel William Smith, 18, of Pottsville, and a 17-year-old Pottsville boy and that the three agreed to steal the car, police said.

The three then went to 1712 W. Norwegian St., illegally entered the home to steal the keys and then stole the car driving it to Port Carbon and surrounding areas before returning to Pottsville where they left the car behind the Patterson Street Hi-Rise, 12th and West Market streets, about 5:30 a.m.

The juvenile was taken into custody about 4 p.m. that day and a juvenile allegation prepared him with felony burglary, felony theft of a motor vehicle along with conspiracy and receiving stolen property. He was then turned over to Schuylkill County juvenile authorities, police said.

On Aug. 17, police said an off-duty police officer saw Rose and Smith walking in Palo Alto and notified Pottsville police knowing the two had active arrest warrants for them stemming from the Aug. 13 vehicle theft.

Both Rose and Smith were taken into custody by Pottsville officers and arraigned by Magisterial District Judge David A. Plachko, Port Carbon, on charges of felony offenses of conspiracy, burglary, theft and receiving stolen property and misdemeanor corruption of minors.

They were then committed to Schuylkill County Prison each unable to post 10 percent of $35,000, police said.

MaryD man faces

charge for fight

MARYD — A MaryD man was charged with harassment by state police at Frackville after an incident at 124 N. Main St. in this Schuylkill Township village about 2:45 p.m. Sunday.

Police said Ricky William Lamberth, 46, was charged after he shoved Eric Ricky Lamberth, 23, during a domestic argument.

Ricky Lamberth will now have to answer to the charge in district court, police said.

Fight probe leads

to drug charges

McADOO — McAdoo police charged a man with possession of drug paraphernalia after an incident about 10:25 p.m. Aug. 19.

Police said officers were called to West Blaine Street for a report of a fight and found an open garage door to the rear of 10 N. Kennedy Drive with two chairs positioned in the area but no one there. There was an open door to a nearby building where Michael Yates, McAdoo, was found inside with another man, police said.

Officers learned that the room Yates was in was his apartment and, while asking him about the fight report, noticed a mirror with a small plastic straw and razor blade. Yates subsequently admitted that he used the items to take illegal drugs and the items were seized.

The charges against the man were filed with Magisterial District Judge Stephen J. Bayer, Tamaqua.

DUI checkpoints

being conducted

The North Central Regional Sobriety Checkpoint DUI Taskforce announced that Sobriety Checkpoints and Roving DUI Patrols will be conducted now through Monday on routes 61, 183, 901, 209, 1006, 309, 1008, 443, 895, 125, 25, 924 and 54.

Travelers are reminded to call 911 if they suspect a drunk driver or to call, toll-free, 888-UNDER21, to report underage drinking.

12 traffic arrests

made on patrol

The North Central PA Regional DUI Enforcement Program reported five officers from five departments participated in a Roving DUI Patrol on Saturday that resulted in 35 vehicles contacted and detained and two drivers tested for DUI.

There were no arrests for DUI or underage drinking but the officers made 12 other traffic arrests, five criminal arrests and issued 21 warning notices.

Boy, 15, found

drinking underage

McADOO — A borough juvenile was charged by McAdoo police with underage drinking and false identification to law enforcement after an incident at the Adams Street playground about 8:10 p.m. Aug. 1.

Police said officers were called to the area for a report of the theft of a cellphone and spoke to a person who was seen in the area during the time of the thefts. Police later determined the boy to be a juvenile.

The boy smelled of alcohol and told police he was 20 years old. When asked for his date of birth, the boy provided a date that would have made him 23 years old and could not provide an address.

Back at the police station, the boy admitted being 15 years old, gave his real name and said the reason he lied was because of “how the cops are these days.”

A breath test determined the teen had been drinking alcohol and he was subsequently released in the custody of his mother, police said.

Marriage licenses

Frank K. Russell III, Pottsville, and Ruth H. Wingard, Pottsville.

Matthew M, Kutz, Pine Grove, and Fallon R. McCabe, Pine Grove.

John J. Bogish III, New Philadelphia, and Howard J. Smith, New Philadelphia.

Sean M. Howells, Saint Clair, and Kelly A. Crowe, Saint Clair.

Joshua K. Yeager, Marion Heights, and Rachael Lawson, Marion Heights.

Cody M. Thomas-Mertz, Mahanoy City, and Taylor L. Finneran, Mahanoy City.

Frederick L. Horan, Schuylkill Haven, and Michelle A. Stripe, Schuylkill Haven.

Nathan K. Stoltzfus, Valley View, and Shara N. Lesher, Valley View.

Jared P. Leibensperger, Cressona, and Amanda M. Faust, Cressona.

Devon A. Blankenbiller, Schuylkill Haven, and Desiree M. Devers, Schuylkill Haven.

Richard A. Baker, Bloomsburg, and Robin Lee Manjone, Zion Grove.

Christopher T. Hamilton, Pine Grove, and Valerie E. Glunz, Orwigsburg.

Missing Palo Alto

man found, safe

PALO ALTO — A borough man who went missing after 9 a.m. Tuesday was located in a wooded area not far from his home.

Palo Alto police Chief Joseph Kavanaugh said Michael Foran, 76, was reported missing by his wife about 9:20 a.m. The chief said Foran was located about 1 p.m. and was safe and not hurt.

Kavanaugh said Foran’s wife returned to their 10 W. Savory St. home after attending church to find her husband missing.

Kavanaugh said crews focused their search near the couple’s home, in the area of God’s Mountain Activity Center, Cadbury and Union streets. Firefighters from Palo Alto and Port Carbon began scouring the woods for Foran there.

The man was subsequently located on the top of a mountain and brought back to safety, the chief said.

Kavanaugh thanked all those who assisted with the search.

2 injured in 2-car

collision in city

Two people suffered minor injuries when their vehicles collided about 3 p.m. Monday on the Gordon Nagle Trail, Route 901, in Pottsville.

State police at Schuylkill Haven said a 17-year-old Schuylkill Haven girl was driving a 2004 Saturn Ion east when she tried to make a left turn onto Red Horse Road and was struck by a westbound 1987 Jeep J20 driven by Richard H. Hablett, 59, of Minersville.

Both drivers suffered minor injuries, and police said the teenage driver will be cited for a left turn violation as a result of the crash.

Schuylkill EMS and Pottsville firefighters assisted at the scene.

Elizabethville boy

faces theft charge

ELIZABETHVILLE — A boy from Elizabethville, Dauphin County, allegedly stole items from a woman’s vehicle in Dauphin County.

State police at Lykens said the 12:45 p.m. Aug. 18 theft of items belonging to Cindy Martin, 49, of Newport, occurred as she was unloading her vehicle at the Greenfield Estates in Elizabethville borough. She had gone inside to talk on the phone and, upon returning, she noticed the 15-year-old boy looking in her car, police said. He was found with several items from the vehicle and charged with theft from a motor vehicle, receiving stolen property and disorderly conduct in Dauphin County Juvenile Court, police said.

Police investigate

theft of cellphone

ELIZABETHVILLE — A man from Lykens stole a cellphone from a Lykens borough woman recently.

State police at Lykens said Catherine Decker, 58, of Elizabethville, reported the theft of her cellphone at 6:52 p.m. Aug. 17. She said the theft occurred when a 22-year-old took her phone in the 100 block of North Market Street in the borough. The person responsible then fled.

Those with information should call state police at Lykens at 717-362-8700.

Man reports

keying incident

ELIZABETHVILLE — Someone scratched the car of an Elizabethville man earlier this month.

State police at Lykens said the act of criminal mischief took place between 4:30 p.m. Aug. 19 and 7 a.m. Aug. 20. A 42-year-old man reported someone scratched his black 2000 Ford Excursion. Those responsible made about 4 scratches, approximately 5 inches long, to the driver’s side, damaging the front and rear quarter panels and front and back doors.

Anyone with information on incident H04-2414875 is asked to call state police at Lykens and ask for Trooper Goodman at 717-362-8700.

Physical fight

leads to 2 charged

ELIZABETHVILLE — Two men had summary harassment filed against them after a verbal argument became physical.

State police at Lykens said charges have been filed against Felipe Gonzalez, 30, of Elizabethville, and Damon Taylor, 45, of Halifax, after an incident at 5:35 p.m. Aug. 20 at 29 Vine St., Elizabethville. The incident took place as the men got into a verbal argument and Gonzalez allegedly pushed Taylor. Taylor then grabbed and held down Gonzalez, police said.

When city Mayor James T. Muldowney recently became critical of the condition of the more than 50 American flags decorating downtown, he called up the Pottsville Joint Veterans Council and asked for a favor.

“It was back in July. There were one or two that were looking a little weathered, and I figured it’s time to order some new ones,” Muldowney said Tuesday.

“They don’t dry up. They’re made of a good, solid nylon,” Robert C. “Bob” Bedford, 85, president of the joint veterans, said.

But over time, the day-to-day traffic exhaust discolors the white stars and bars on the 3-foot-by-5-foot banners. And exposure to the sun causes the blues and reds to fade, Muldowney said.

“We’ve had our existing flags for at least five years,” City Administrator Thomas A. Palamar said.

“They were starting to look a little drab. And about every five years we replace them,” Bedford said.

“So,” the mayor said, “I called Bob and said ‘Bob, we need flags downtown.’ And he said ‘Go get ‘em, Jim!’ ”

The new flags were put up recently by the city’s streets department and the mayor said they will brighten the city’s downtown for Labor Day weekend, Sept. 5 to Sept. 7.

For decades, the city has displayed American flags along its main downtown thoroughfares. And since the nonprofit Pottsville Joint Veterans Council was chartered in 1971, the council has offered to buy those flags for the city, Bedford said.

The council was formed by four organizations: American Legion Post 67, Walter F. Griffiths AMVETS Post 180, Catholic War Veterans Post 1051 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 129.

“Once we formed the joint veterans, we started to put the flags up with some uniformity, like they are now,” Bedford said.

Today, Veterans of the Vietnam War Post 29, Schuylkill County, is also affiliated with the joint veterans council.

The joint veterans council operates via donations, including an annual donation from Schuylkill County, and the contributions it receives for conducting veterans burial services, Bedford said.

“It’s one of the best organizations, one of the most civic-minded organizations, I’ve dealt with since I’ve been in my job here. I don’t think they’ve let the city down once, ever,” Palamar said, referring to the Pottsville Joint Veterans Council. Palamar became city administrator in 2001.

On Tuesday at the mayor’s office, Bedford wrote out a check for $1,568 to pay for the 100 nylon embroidered American flags the city ordered from Flags Unlimited, Tampa, Florida.

The shipment came in last week and the city streets department immediately took down the used flags and put up the new ones, Thomas W. Whitaker, city superintendent of streets, said Tuesday.

“Every year, we put them out for Memorial Day and we take them down after Labor Day,” the mayor said.

Streets which feature the flags on poles include: West Market Street from Centre to 4th streets; Centre Street from Nichols to Mauch Chunk streets; and East Norwegian Street from Centre Street to Claude A. Lord Boulevard.

The used flags will be burned at a ceremony at the Charles Baber Cemetery in Pottsville in November, Bedford said.

When he examined one of the new flags Tuesday, Bedford demonstrated how to properly fold a flag.

After he was honorably discharged from the Air Force on Oct. 18, 1954, with the rank of staff sergeant, Bedford returned to Pottsville, joined local veterans organizations and started folding flags on a routine basis.

MINERSVILLE — The COURTS Restoration Project only needed one person to take the ball and run, but it took a team to get it to the hoop, according to Mark J. Mahal.

A project to restore the borough sports complex basketball courts was completed Aug. 18, with the exception of a dedication sign, after Mahal, project chairman, got the ball rolling in May.

“I decided the day before the (May 12) council meeting that the project needed to be moved and begin to happen. So I took it to the council the next day, and they were completely on board,” he said Friday.

A team compiled of community residents, business owners and borough officials assisted Mahal with raising more than $15,000 for the restoration. More than $4,500 was donated by the borough.

“We have a good working council down there. When you have a council that works with you and a borough manager like Bob (Mahalchick), who is very energetic in his position, and a community that really cares, it made things a lot easier,” he said.

The borough street department spent hours repainting and cleaning up the courts as well.

After approximately two months, the basketball courts were revitalized with two new glass backboards, two restored hoops with backboards and poles and new asphalt with new lines.

Additionally, James W. Quandel & Sons Inc. donated concrete barriers so no vehicles can drive on the property.

The courts project originally began as The QBA Restoration Project and would restore the courts behind The Quandel Group, 401 Jones St.

The location became controversial when Mahal was informed it would take away 50 parking spots from high school football game parking.

“As time went on, even though the money was getting closer, the reality of the actual location wasn’t good because I was not going to do something positive and have any negative repercussions,” Mahal said.

Though the project moved, it will remain in honor of a close friend of Mahal and Mahalchick.

Stephen “Gebe” Angelo’s took his life after a battle with depression, but he never failed to be a role model for the children on the basketball courts.

“He’s looking down probably saying, ‘This is great for the kids.’ I lived next door to him for many years, and he was really tight with my son. My son actually felt like he was a second father to him,” Mahalchick said Tuesday.

“He was really good with the kids. He was able to relate to them in a way and help them along with things,” Mahal continued.

The courts proved difficult to play on before restoration but now are impressing borough residents, especially Justin Mahalchick, 15, Bob Mahalchick’s son.

“I like them personally. To be honest, I hope it doesn’t get destroyed because it’s better, I think. A lot of people are going to be up here,” Justin Mahalchick said.

Justin Mahalchick and his friends utilized the old court often and are excited to play on the new court, he said.

While the courts now ready for public use, Mahal hopes the dedication will take place in spring of 2016 with a three versus three basketball tournament.

“Once July came, I thought, ‘This is not going to play out the way we wanted,’ because it wasn’t realistic,” Mahal said.

Getting the pieces ordered and shipped took longer than expected, he added.

He also hopes a sign will be erected in dedication to Angelo and everyone who helped make the project possible.

“I’m pleased. I knew which direction we had to go and what had to be done. It’s not a regulation (court), but it wasn’t ever really meant to be a PIAA NCAA court,” Mahal said. “At the end of the day, I’m glad it’s here.”

“When Mark came to the borough council with this project, it was a no-brainer for us,” Mahalchick said. “It’s been great working with Mark (Mahal). As a community, it came together. We’ll hopefully see more citizens step forward and take pride in our community.”

Like Justin Mahalchick, Mahal and Bob Mahalchick also ask that the courts are taken care of by the community.

“The one thing we want to stress is we want the kids to self-police this because it wasn’t a cheap endeavor. If this gets destroyed, who knows, we might not have this back again. So we want the children to know they have something good here and to take care of it. And if they see somebody doing some damage, come forward,” Mahalchick said.

“And that’s not ratting out. There’s no reason for vandalism. Somebody telling on their buddy is one thing, but someone stepping up to do the right thing is different. Not a lot of kids see it that way,” Mahal said.

The borough council will be presented with a recommendation to add high-definition surveillance cameras Sept. 1 at their work session. There are cameras in place at the courts now, but they are not high quality, Mahalchick said.

There was so much success at the sports complex that the borough and the Juvenile Probation Department are working toward restoring the Second Street playground next, Mahalchick added.

“Let’s help each other out. We’re all one community here,” he said.

Schuylkill County will be collecting electronic waste at its annual Fall Cleanup in September.

The county office of solid waste has found a vendor for the recycling event after no company submitted bids earlier this month.

The annual recycling event provides an opportunity once a year for county residents to drop off tires, electronics, appliances, scrap metal and bulky items at various times and sites throughout the county over the course of two weeks. It is scheduled for Sept. 16 to 26 this year at 13 sites: Pottsville, Hegins Township, Minersville, CES Landfill, Girardville, North Manheim Township, Pine Grove, Schuylkill Haven, Wayne Township, Porter Township, Tamaqua Transfer Station, Ringtown and Tremont Township.

It is funded through the county commissioners and the state Department of Environmental Protection, which reimburses the county up to 50 percent of the costs.

Joseph Scribbick, county solid waste and recycling coordinator, said Tuesday that Vintage Tech Recyclers, Philadelphia, has agreed to haul the electronic waste away free of charge.

“County residents have been concerned,” Scribbick said. “I have been getting numerous calls from residents questioning whether or not we will have a vendor. With some determination and due diligence, we came to an agreement with Vintage Tech LLC to service our event for the electronics. The service is at a zero-cost basis.”

Some items like tires, Freon-bearing appliances and bulky items will be accepted at a cost. However, electronics such as television sets, microwaves and computer systems will be accepted at no charge. A computer system includes a monitor, a hard drive and one printer or scanner and peripherals.

“It was highly important we came to an agreement with Vintage Tech to offer this service to the residents,” Scribbick said.

The recycling event last year collected:

• 45.33 tons of scrap tires

• 202.29 tons of scrap electronics

• 48.85 tons of scrap metals

• 84.34 tons of bulky items

Earlier this month, the county opened bids for the event. Mahantango Enterprises Inc., Liverpool, was the only company that submitted a bid for waste tire collection. The bid was $70 per ton and different pull costs for each site ranging from $440 to $800. No bids were submitted to collect the electronic materials.

For more information, visit the county office of solid waste and resource management website at www.co.schuylkill.pa.us/Offices/Recycles.

MAHANOY CITY — A man was jailed Tuesday on drug charges after being arrested by Mahanoy Township police with a bundle, 50 packs, of heroin.

Patrolman Elliott Burlett charged Ryan A. Hasara, 35, of 217 W. Mahanoy Ave., Mahanoy City, with felony possession with intent to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance and criminal use of a communication facility and misdemeanor offenses of possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Hasara was arraigned by on-call Magisterial District Judge James K. Reiley, Pottsville, and committed to Schuylkill County Prison unable to post $40,000 straight cash bail.

Burlett said the charges are the result of an investigation by township officers and the Schuylkill County Drug Task Force.

Burlett said that he, police Chief Brandon Alexander and task force members were conducting a drug investigation about 3:40 p.m. and learned from a confidential informant that Hasara was offering heroin for sale for $140.

Burlett said the informant was provided with $140 in marked bills and gave the money to Hasara in an area near the Mahanoy City Post Office on East Pine Street. Hasara then told the informant that he had to drive to Hazleton to get a “brick” of heroin that contained 50 individual bags.

Burlett said officers watched as Hasara entered Interstate 81 north toward Hazleton and then about 5:20 p.m. returned and exited the interstate onto Route 54 and pull over to the side of the road.

Burlett said Hasara then opened his trunk and began “digging around,” re-entered the vehicle and drove away west toward Mahanoy City.

The officer said he initiated a traffic stop, ordered Hasara out of the vehicle and detained him. The man initially said he did not have heroin, but when told about the $140 given to him from the informant, said he threw heroin into the bushes when he pulled over earlier.

Drug task force detectives went to the area where Hasara said he threw the heroin but the man then admitted the drugs were in the trunk of his car, behind the carpeting near the left taillight, Burlett said.

Burlett said he found 50 bags of suspected heroin in the trunk along with a syringe in the front of the vehicle.

Hasara was then taken to the Mahanoy Township police station where the powder inside the bags, all marked “FIRE,” tested positive for heroin.

Hasara will now have to answer to the charges against him before Magisterial District Judge Anthony J. Kilker, Shenandoah.

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN — Those who come to the first Family Safety Night Out event Sept. 17 at The Island in the borough will have the opportunity to learn about safety and have some fun.

Borough resident Sarah Fisher thought of the idea in June and has been working on getting people and organizations to participate. She wants to bring awareness to the public about safety and the crucial role the police and firefighters and other emergency personnel have within the community.

“There’s so many kids that are afraid of police officers,” she said Tuesday.

Because her parents are fire police in Orwigsburg, Fisher is no stranger to emergency personnel.

The free event from 5 to 8 p.m. will showcase apparatus from all three Schuylkill Haven fire companies, a police car from the Schuylkill Haven Police Department, an ambulance from Schuylkill EMS, a school bus from R&J Transportation, Splash the clown, different organizations promoting animal safety and representatives from the state Game Commission promoting hunting and outdoor safety. The Schuylkill Haven Recreation department and Spotts Insurance, sponsors for the event, will also be there. Face painting will be available for a small charge, Fisher said. The Schuylkill County Sheriff’s Department will also be there to provide fingerprinting for children.

The borough recreation department will sell food such as hamburgers, hot dogs pizza and pretzels. Yuengling’s Ice Cream will also be for sale.

B.J. Folk, borough recreation director, said the idea is a good thing to “get the community together.” Those who want to participate can call the borough recreation department at 570-385-1313.

Jim Reed, Schuylkill Haven assistant fire chief, said Tuesday that the event sounds like a positive one for the area.

“We are more than receptive to the idea,” he said.

The department will have fire engines and other vehicles at the event, Reed said.

Schuylkill Haven Borough police Chief Jeffrey Walcott said an officer at the event will talk to the children about his job and provide bicycle and pedestrian literature.

Mike Peckman, director of marketing and public relations for Schuylkill Health, said they are joining in the event.

“These kind of community events are really good,” he said.

n Frackville: The annual barbecue chicken dinner and bean soup sale sponsored by the South End Field and Stream Association will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 19 at the Whippoorwill Dam, Morea Road. Dinners are $8. The deadline to order is Sept. 11. There will be a limited amount of dinners for walk-ins. To order or for more information, call 570-874-1108.

n Frackville: Elks Lodge 1533 will do “Labor Day Grillin’” at the lodge, 307 S. Third St., beginning at noon Sept. 7. Members will grill hamburgers and hot dogs, including sides, for $8. Patrons may also choose a steak with sides for $12. A cash bar will be available. All are welcome.

n Frackville: St. John the Baptist Polish National Catholic Church, 414 W. Oak St., will sponsor a spaghetti dinner fundraiser from 4 to 7 p.m. Sept. 17 in the church hall. The cost is $8 per dinner and $2 for children 5 and younger. Patrons may eat in the hall or take dinners out. The deadline to order is Sept. 13. There will be a limited number of dinners for walk-ins. To order or for more information, call 570-874-0119.

n Heckscherville: The annual outdoor Labor Day Mass at Castle Green Grotto will be held at 10 a.m. Sept. 7. The grotto is located at 950 Valley Road, Minersville/Heckscherville Highway. It is dedicated to “all who came” to the chapel that was located at the site and honors those who labored in anthracite coal mining, according to a press release. Refreshments will be served after Mass. Attendees should bring lawn chairs. Parking is available at the grotto. For more information, call Mary Ann at 570-544-3658.

n Ringtown: The Ringtown Area Library has announced a free new school readiness program for children up to age 5 called “1,000 Books before Kindergarten.” According to library Director Tanya Savitsky, “reading to your child is one of the most powerful ways to boost his or her brain power.” Those interested should sign up at the library, 132 W. Main St., to receive the first reading record. “Fill in a circle for each book that you read with your child. Each time 100 books is reached, return the reading record to the library and receive a special reward and your child’s name and/or photo will be placed on the library’s milestone display.” For more information, call the library at 570-889-5503.

n Taylor: Despite progress in the fight against cancer, there are many cancer patients whose greatest challenge isn’t lack of treatment, but rather lack of transportation. In a press release, Jennifer Washney, American Cancer Society mission delivery specialist, said that many patients in northeastern and central Pennsylvania don’t have a way to get to treatments, and drivers are needed in Luzerne, Lackawanna, Carbon, Schuylkill, Susquehanna, Wyoming and Bradford counties. “We are especially looking for volunteers who are able to drive during the winter, since many of our drivers head south for the winter,” she said. The American Cancer Society Road to Recovery program provides free transportation to and from medical treatment appointments for people who are in active treatment for a cancer diagnosis (currently receiving chemotherapy or radiation) who do not have a ride or are unable to drive themselves. However, the program needs more drivers. Volunteer drivers need to have a valid Pennsylvania driver’s license, be between 18 and 85 years old, have a good driving record, a reliable vehicle, proof of insurance, complete a background check and driver check and watch an online orientation webinar, Washney said in the release. Hours are flexible, and rides are typically provided from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Drivers can restrict availability to only a certain day or days of the week or to whatever amount of time they can provide. They can drive their own vehicles or ACS vehicles where available. People interested should call 570-562-9749 and ask to speak to Jennifer or email her at washney@cancer.org.

Two municipalities in the county now have the West Nile virus.

The virus was detected in mosquitoes Aug. 14 in Pine Grove Township and Pine Grove borough, according to a state press release Friday. This is the second time this year the virus has been found in the township and the first for the borough.

Colleen Connolly, community relations coordinator for DEP’s Northeast Regional office, said Tuesday no spraying is planned at this time. She urged residents to remain vigilant in combating the virus.

“Get rid of standing water, use bug spray, try to limit your exposure outside,” she said Tuesday.

She does not have locations for where the mosquitoes that tested positive were found.

To date, 45 of the 67 counties in Pennsylvania have had the virus detected for a total of 1,174 positive cases of the virus. There have been six confirmed human cases of the virus, one each in Chester, Cumberland, Erie and Venango counties and two in Montgomery county. McKean County is the only county to have a positive veterinary case. Eight counties have had a total of 14 dead birds that tested positive for the virus: Allegheny, Bedford, Centre, Cumberland, Dauphin, Delaware, Lancaster and York.

West Nile virus is mostly spread by mosquitoes but also through blood transfusions, organ transplants, breast feeding and during pregnancy, according to a fact sheet from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The virus causes flu-like symptoms and can result in encephalitis, which is inflammation of the brain. Symptoms can show three to 14 days after being bitten by a mosquito carrying the virus.

A total of 21,158 mosquito samples have been collected statewide. Of those, 7,428 have been tested and 1,153 tested positive.

In Adams County, 486 mosquito samples have been tested, and 130 have tested positive for the virus. York County has had 658 mosquito samples tested. Of those, 154 tested positive. Delaware County has had 381 samples tested with 114 of them being positive.

Closer to home, Berks County has 12 positive cases of the virus out of 175 tested. Schuylkill County has three positive cases of the virus among the 56 samples tested. The county is classified as having an above-average risk for the virus, according to the state. The state updates its website, www.westnile.state.pa.us, with results as they become available.

DEP uses traps to collect the mosquitoes. Whether or not to spray is determined by virus prevalence in the county.

Last year, 39 of the state’s 67 counties had positive cases of West Nile virus. Of those, 13 people were infected, including a man from Philadelphia County who died.

In Schuylkill County, there were seven positive mosquito sample cases last year in the following municipalities: Pine Grove and Butler townships, and Schuylkill Haven, Minersville and Gilberton boroughs. Schuylkill Haven and Gilberton each had two.

No cases of West Nile virus were found in the United States before 1999. It was first detected in Pennsylvania in 2000. It is named after the area in Uganda where it first appeared in 1937, according to www.westnile.state.pa.us.

State Attorney General Kathleen G. Kane won’t suspend a top aide who is charged with illegally accessing emails to get information on the grand jury probe of her, despite her office policy that requires he be suspended without pay.

Patrick Reese, former Dunmore police chief, was charged Aug. 6 with indirect criminal contempt for allegedly accessing emails on a secure server that contained confidential information relating to the grand jury investigating if she leaked information from a 2009 grand jury probe to a Philadelphia newspaper. Montgomery County prosecutors said that violated a protective order issued by Montgomery County Judge William Carpenter that barred anyone in the Attorney General’s office from that information.

The Office of Attorney General’s policy states any employee who has been charged with criminal conduct related to his or her employment “shall be suspended without pay.” The language is identical to language in Pennsylvania Code relating to the code of conduct for state employees and appointed officials.

Chuck Ardo, spokesman for Kane, acknowledged Reese’s alleged offense is related to his job. He said Kane’s chief of staff, Jonathan Duecker, determined the crime with which Reese is charged is not enough to force a suspension of the man.

Ardo said he does not know what state law, policy or procedure, if any, Duecker relied upon in making his determination.

“All I can tell you is Duecker determined it did not rise to the level of suspension,” he said.

Reese, who retired as Dunmore police chief in February 2013, earned more than $97,000 last year as a member of Kane’s security detail, according to payroll records. Those earnings are in addition to the $46,847 pension he received from Dunmore, according to records obtained by The Times-Tribune.

In the criminal complaint filed against Reese, prosecutors described him as one of Kane’s closest confidants. His query of stored emails allowed him to access subpoenas issued to people called before the grand jury and other sensitive information. Some of those people complained they were confronted as they arrived to testify. A hearing on the contempt charge is scheduled for Sept. 9.

Reese could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

Gene Stilp, a taxpayer advocate who has called for Kane’s resignation, blasted the decision regarding Reese as another example of her lack of leadership.

“This is just another instance of the attorney general diminishing what’s left of the integrity of this office,” Stilp said.

Stilp, who recently filed ethics and disciplinary complaints against Kane, again called upon Gov. Tom Wolf and the state Senate to take action to remove Kane from office.

“The citizens of Pennsylvania cannot tolerate this behavior,” he said. “We need leadership, trust and responsibility in the position of attorney general. None of those traits have been exhibited by Kathleen Kane.”

Stilp may not like the decision regarding Reese, but it appears there’s little he or anyone else can do to challenge it, however.

In an email, Jeffrey Sheridan, press secretary for Wolf, said the Pennsylvania Code of Conduct does not apply to the Office of Attorney General, which has the power to adopt its own code.

Barry Dyller, a Wilkes-Barre attorney who specializes in civil rights and employment law, also said he does not believe the Pennsylvania Code applies to Kane. He said Wolf would not have any say over the matter as Kane is an elected official and does not answer to him.

“I don’t know that the members of the public have any recourse other than to vote out an elected official,” Dyller said.

SHENANDOAH — Any 150th anniversary usually needs a catchy slogan, and the Shenandoah Sesquicentennial Committee is turning to the public for just the right one.

The committee met Tuesday at the American Legion Anthony P. Damato Medal of Honor Post 792 as it continues to plan for the anniversary events, including fundraisers, over the next year that will culminate in a weeklong celebration in late August 2016.

The sesquicentennial effort had its first appearance in a public event last Saturday as a group of teen girls wearing period costumes marched in the Parade of Nations on Heritage Day behind a banner that asked everyone “Are you ready?” for the 150th celebration.

Committee Secretary Anne Taylor, who chaired the meeting, spoke of the creation of a logo by school children but explained that a slogan is needed first.

“Before they can do a logo in art class, the school kids will need the slogan,” Taylor told the 20 people who attended the meeting. “So, why don’t we start a slogan contest immediately ... everyone is welcome to give suggestions.”

The contest is open to those who have some connection to Shenandoah.

“I want to open it up to as many people as possible,” Taylor said. “As I have here on my notes, it would include Shenandoah residents and in Weston Place and Shenandoah Heights. It’s open to those in Shenandoah, the Shenandoah area, if you used to live in Shenandoah, if your grandparents lived in Shenandoah, if you have roots in Shenandoah.”

Slogan submissions will be reviewed and the winner announced Sept. 19, after which the logo contest with the children will begin.

“The slogan should be written down, and drop them off at the DSI (Downtown Shenandoah Inc.) office,” Taylor said. “They can also send them to my email (annetaylor@ptd.net), or they can post them right on our Facebook page. And if they get a bit crazy, we’ll go to the administrator approved mode before they’re posted.”

The Facebook page is Shenandoah Sesquicentennial Celebration. The DSI office is in the Damato building at 116 N. Main St.

“One of the odd things about this whole sesquicentennial is that we’ve mentioned very little of the ancient heritage and founding,” Andrew Ulicny said.

“The logos are going to tie that in,” Taylor said.

Deeds

Ashland — Mario A. DiNenna to Eric and Sheri Smarowsky; 1428 Centre St.; $15,000.

Butler Township — Christ Reformed Church of Helfenstein, Pennsylvania to The Ministry of Water and Spirit; 912 High Road, Helfenstein; $1.

James W. and Kay L. Hogan to Raymond A. and Cynthia L. Smith; property at Main and Maple streets, Lavelle; $32,000.

East Union Township — Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to Stephanie Fowler; 68 Snow Ridge Circle, Zion Grove; $59,000.

Minersville — Mary A. Sanza to Alan and Lori Ann Clemer; property on Third Avenue; $7,500.

Orwigsburg — Owen M. and Louise M. Jennings to Summer Valley Realty LLC; 229 and 239 Walborn Ave.; $99,000.

Porter Township — Donald L. and Jean A. Wolff to Donald L. and Jean A. Wolff; 316 Dietrich Ave., Orwin; $1.

Pottsville — Nicole Frantz to Rose M. Godfroy; 231 Pierce St.; $2,000.

Edward Fogel to Mark and Maureen Tray; 328 E. Norwegian St.; $10,000.

Federal National Mortgage Association to Gary L. Cornog; 320 Spring Garden St.; $12,500.

Christa M. and Martin J. Hudec to Francis J. Sisko; 1949 Elk Ave.; $151,500.

Saint Clair — Leonard V. Smetona to Gary T. and Blanche G. Arner; 22 S. Morris St.; $68,000.

Schuylkill Township — George T. and Dorothy A. Ross to Jennifer Ann Quinn; 37 Piersol St., Reevesdale; $10,000.

A Pottsville motorist faces possible prison time after a Schuylkill County jury convicted him Tuesday of running away from police in May 2014 in Shenandoah.

Robert F. Seigel, 51, is guilty of fleeing or eluding police, the jury ruled.

Judge Cyrus Palmer Dolbin, who presided over Seigel’s one-day trial, also found the defendant guilty of driving under suspension-DUI related and driving without a license.

Shenandoah police had charged Seigel with running from them, and driving with a suspended license on May 14, 2014, in the borough.

Jurors accepted the closing argument of Deputy Assistant District Attorney John T. Fegley that Seigel’s actions showed he wanted to flee.

“The defendant quickly accelerated and drove away” when he saw police were chasing him, Fegley said.

Furthermore, Seigel drove away as soon as police got out of their car, according to Fegley.

“He only stopped when he had nowhere else to go,” Fegley said. “He only put his hands up when weapons were drawn.”

Assistant Public Defender Kent D. Watkins, Seigel’s lawyer, had argued that nothing in his client’s actions indicated he was fleeing.

In another Tuesday case, another jury found Robert J. Trakes, 58, of Mahanoy City, not guilty of fleeing or eluding police.

Judge Charles M. Miller, who presided over Trakes’ one-day trial, found him guilty of three counts of improper turning movements and one each of speeding, stop sign violation and careless driving. He found him not guilty of two additional counts each of improper turning movements and stop sign violation.

Mahanoy City police had alleged Trakes drove away from them on July 7, 2014, in the borough.

However, Trakes successfully testified he stopped at the first opportunity he had once he saw the lights and heard the siren.

“Were you in any way attempting to flee a police officer?” Douglas J. Taglieri, Pottsville, Trakes’ lawyer, asked his client.

“No, I was not,” Trakes replied.

Assistant District Attorney Keith D. Hoppes prosecuted the case against Trakes.

John E. Clause left Schuylkill County Court a free man on Tuesday, as a jury acquitted him of four charges stemming from an April 2014 incident in which one of his neighbors was shot in Walker Township.

Clause, 60, of Reynolds, thanked the jurors, while his friends and relatives applauded, after the jury of seven women and five men found him not guilty of two counts of aggravated assault and one each of simple assault and recklessly endangering another person.

The verdict, which jurors reached after deliberating about 1 1/2 hours, ended a two-day trial over which President Judge William E. Baldwin presided.

State police at Frackville had charged Clause with shooting Mark Scheitrum in the face about 8 p.m. April 12, 2014, at the 114 Reynolds Road home of his father, Kevin Scheitrum.

However, Clause successfully testified that he feared for his life after Mark Scheitrum lunged at him.

“He’s got the gun by the barrel. He grabs the gun and pulls it alongside my face,” a weeping Clause testified about the incident. “He’s on top of me. My head hits the wall.”

Clause said that while the two were struggling, the gun, which he admitted was his, accidentally went off.

“When you went down to that trailer, did you have any intention of hurting Mark?” Frederick J. Fanelli, Pottsville, Clause’s lawyer, asked him.

“Absolutely not,” Clause answered.

When cross-examined by Assistant District Attorney David J. Rice, Clause said he had drunk two or three beers that day and that he initiated the conversation with Scheitrum that resulted in the shooting.

In his closing argument, Rice emphasized that Clause went uninvited to the Scheitrum residence.

“Mark Scheitrum is minding his own business. We have a defendant here who goes out of his way with a deadly weapon to visit someone who’s minding his own business,” Rice said. “(Clause) wasn’t protecting anyone else.”

Rice also said Clause could have left when Scheitrum asked him to do so.

“If that happened, you wouldn’t be here today,” he said.

However, jurors accepted Fanelli’s closing argument that Scheitrum was beating Clause when the former was shot.

“But for that gun going off, he’d be dead,” Fanelli said of his client.

Fanelli also said Scheitrum did not tell jurors the truth when he said he was shot in the bathroom.

“There’s no blood near the sink. There’s blood all over the hallway,” he said. “If you look at the physical evidence, it doesn’t support Mark Scheitrum at all.”

In the end, according to Fanelli, Scheitrum was responsible for what occurred.

“Nobody’s happy that Mark Scheitrum got shot,” Fanelli said. “He brought this upon himself.”

Grandparents of three children in foster care told the commissioners on Wednesday that they are being treated unfairly by Schuylkill County Children & Youth.

Anna Funk and Andrew Zelonis, Barnesville, attended the public meeting Wednesday with a room full of family and friends to support them as they aired their complaints about the county agency not granting them custody, allowing them to visit or answering any questions.

“We have always taken care of these kids and we don’t understand why we are being treated so unfairly,” Funk said.

Funk said the agency put her three grandchildren into foster care June 29 after her daughter was incarcerated. The following day, she said an agency employee picked up the children’s belongings. She said those items, including a breathing machine and eye drops for her 6-year-old grandson with Down syndrome, did not get to the foster homes until July 20. In the meantime, her grandson was taken to the emergency room with upper respiratory problems, she said.

All three children were placed in different foster homes, she said. Her daughter received paperwork stating that there have been allegations of child abuse involving her 6-year-old grandchild with Down syndrome. She said the agency has yet to provide any further information on the allegations.

“Can you imagine basically a month and no one understands who, what, when, where or why? It scares the heck out of us,” Zelonis, an attorney and former district magistrate in Tamaqua, said.

Funk said they have been asking the agency since the beginning of July about visitation, but did not receive any paperwork until recently. On Aug. 12, they were only allowed a 30-minute visit. When they did visit, Zelonis said the child with Down syndrome had lost about 20 percent of his weight.

Meanwhile, Funk said the children’s father, who they said has barely been a part of their lives, can see them for two hours each week.

“We pretty much raised the kids,” she said. “My daughter has lived with us all but five months.”

It was only after her daughter moved out that Children & Youth became involved.

Funk said they had served as protective parents for the children and were considered a resource for the children by the agency. However, Children & Youth told the judge that there was no appropriate caregivers available for the children.

“What I can not understand was the fact that the issue of reunification with this family has really just been totally underlooked,” Zelonis said.

Family and friends also praised Funk and Zelonis as caregivers.

“I am outraged as a citizen to think there are innocent children suffering when there are two grandparents here who love them dearly and the thing standing in the way is government red tape,” Jim Lutz said.

“We absolutely take your concerns very seriously,” commissioners Chairman Frank J. Staudenmeier said. “We really aren’t at liberty to discuss details of the entire scenario. Decisions are made by the courts. They are not under our jurisdiction.”

Lisa Stevens, Children & Youth executive director, and other agency employees attended the meeting. Stevens said she was unable to comment on the issue due to confidentially requirements.

“We share your concerns,” Staudenmeier said. “It is not under our jurisdiction and we will bring it to the attention of Lisa and her staff to try to answer your concerns to the best we can.”

Commissioner George F. Halcovage Jr. said everyone there is concerned about the welfare of the children.

“I’m sure Children & Youth and the courts will do what they can within their parameters to make sure that this has a positive outcome,” he said. “... I think there will be good, open communication, as much as permitted by law. You guys are in my prayers also.”

Commissioner Gary J. Hess had spoken with Funk earlier in the month and had arranged a conference call with her, Stevens and a few other agency employees. Funk said that call allowed them to visit their grandchildren for the first time.

“We followed through like any other concern from Children & Youth,” Hess said. “We always try to bring in our department heads and everyone involved to work out the issue.”

Hess said there is information regarding the matter that not even the commissioners are privy to because of confidentiality.

“The utmost is the safety of the child,” he said.

NEW RINGGOLD — Gunner, a police dog with the West Penn Township Police Department, now has a bullet- and stab-resistant vest.

The 2-year-old German Shepherd received his gift Wednesday at the West Penn Community Park. Shawn Phillips, West Penn Township, a former sergeant with East Penn Township police and also with Coaldale borough, and his sister, Debbie Huegel, Tamaqua, set up a GoFundMe account for the effort. Phillips said he wanted to see the dog be protected just like the police have vests to protect them.

“It’s just something I feel close at heart to,” he said.

Phillips knows West Penn Township police Chief Brian Johnson because he worked for him while with the East Penn Township police. They raised about $1,400 for the vest from the two-month effort earlier this year.

At least 50 people donated to the cause, Huegel said, adding one person donated $500 and wishes to remain anonymous. Both Huegel and Phillips contacted Johnson prior to starting the effort.

Rob Ford, vice president of Hounds on Working Leashes, a nonprofit in Allentown, presented the vest after it was manufactured by K9 Tactical Gear, a California-based company. Hounds on Working Leashes does fundraisers and sells T-shirts and takes donations for the vests for dogs.

“The vest weighs about 10 percent of the dog’s weight,” Ford said of the vest that is guaranteed for five years.

The vest has a ballistic- and a stab-resistant panel to protect the officer’s best friend. The vest also has a repelling mount and a harness for the rear legs.

Johnson said the vest makes him feel “very safe and secure” knowing that Gunner, who is from Holland and weighs about 85 pounds, has protection.

“It gives you a little bit more peace of mind,” he said of his patrol and narcotics dog.

Gunner got to look at the vest before it was placed on him. Phillips put the vest on Gunner in the vehicle, and then Gunner jumped out to play with a ball.