PORT CARBON — The borough council wants to do a study to find a long-term fix for a sinkhole that opened up on Route 209 in front of Turkey Hill Minit Market last year, but it’s not sure how much that would cost or if it should be its sole financial responsibility.

At its September workshop Tuesday night, the council decided to apply to the state Department of Transportation for a Highway Occupancy Permit for the project but did not green light the study, which would involve digging.

Council President Harold “Bucky” Herndon said first he’d like borough officials to have a meeting with representatives of the Greater Pottsville Area Sewer Authority, including GPASA Executive Director Timothy R. Yingling.

“The thing about it is it’s got to be fixed no matter what,” Herndon said. “We need the people involved with it who know about it to sit here with us to get this straightened out so it will keep the cost to borough at a minimal expense,” Herndon said.

Borough engineer James S. Tohill of Alfred Benesch & Co., Pottsville, said Tuesday he recently spoke with Yingling and Vincent D. Riotto, GPASA street crew supervisor, about the situation.

“We tried to figure out where the sewer goes in that location, which direction it’s flowing and if that could have any impact on why that area settled. Vince Riotto is pretty much the only person who has knowledge of it. Right now, the manhole is paved over. But Vince was in that manhole several times,” Tohill said.

“The sewer comes down Pike Street, hangs a right and goes toward Rose Alley,” he said.

A “30-inch concrete stub pipe,” which makes a 90-degree bend inside the manhole and points toward Turkey Hill, is in that area, he said.

“Nobody is sure why that was put in. It predates Vince Riotto’s time with the sewer authority. It was likely installed for a stormwater connection, back before the regulations,” Tohill said.

Tohill has a few theories on why the void under the road occurred but said the only way to find out for sure is to dig.

“What we’re suggesting is opening up a square, about a 5-foot-by-5-foot square, and digging down until we get down to that pipe and we can see whatever’s happening,” Tohill said.

“In other words, they’re pushing that off on the borough to pick up the tab? If you ask me, that’s the sewer line,” John Franko, council vice president, said.

“Well, what they’re saying is the likely cause is the stub pipe which appears to be a storm pipe, or installed for storm purposes. The sewer authority said they would work with us. They would do some work on the inside, maybe plugging up that pipe. But they feel they’re not at fault for the settlement issue because it’s potentially a storm water issue,” Tohill said.

“What they’re saying is the sewage going through the manhole is theirs, the sewer line coming in and out is theirs, but the additional pipe that came into that manhole, they don’t know if PennDOT put that in there at some point or if someone with the borough had any say to it or it’s a very old regime of the sewer authority had something to do with it. But they’re saying it would not have been installed for sewage purposes, a pipe of that size,” Tohill said.

“Don’t they have blueprints or drawings?” Mike Quercia, councilman in charge of the borough streets department, asked.

“None that they’re aware of for that manhole,” Tohill said.

“What kind of expense would the borough be looking at?” Mayor Charles R. “Chuck” Joy asked.

“That’s the part that wasn’t worked out. The first step was going to be getting a permit to be able to do this work. But as far as who exactly was going to do what work, none of those details were ironed out, besides a handshake agreement that there would be cooperation,” Tohill said.

“Is there a time limit on a permit?” Quercia asked.

“Once a Highway Occupancy Permit is issued, you have one year to complete the work. And you could ask for a time extension. I think for municipalities, I think the fees are waived. Or they’re minute,” Tohill said.

In other matters at the workshop, the borough accepted the resignation of one of its part-time crossing guards, Josie Brish.

“It was nothing other than personal reasons and her schedule,” Joy said.

“Since then, our highway department has been covering,” Herndon said.

The council voted to advertise the position, and Joy said anyone interested can call the borough office at 570-622-2255.

Before the end of the workshop, Herndon advised the council and the public on how communications with the borough’s police department — which is made up of two full-time and three part-time officers — should be handled.

“If you have a question for a police officer, you can bring it to me and I can talk to the mayor or you can talk to the mayor directly and he will try to find that information. The police officers, if they have questions for us, they will go to their boss, who is the mayor, and they will come to us. That’s the way it should be. I just wanted to pass that on to you,” Herndon said.

Divorces granted

Antonette Mercuri, Schuylkill Haven, from Domenjc Mercuri, Schuylkill Haven.

Amanda Lyon, Ashland, from Nathan Lyon, Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Rachal Ortiz, Pottsville, from Luis Ortiz, Kissimmee, Florida.

Allison L. Hoffman, Shenandoah, from Kristopher Hoffman, Shenandoah.

Marisol Colon, Shenandoah, from Jiminez Colon, Camp Hill.

Matthew A. Wagner, Orwigsburg, from Ashley A. Wagner, Auburn.

Brian A. Moyer, Schuylkill Haven, from Casey L. Moyer, Schuylkill Haven.

Renee Reiner, Tower City, from Darryn Reiner, Valley View.

HARRISBURG — The legal controversies surrounding state Attorney General Kathleen G. Kane are reaching critical mass just as one of the most important elections in decades for the Pennsylvania Supreme Court enters the home stretch. The Supreme Court is deeply involved in the volatile Kane case so it is entirely possible voters could react to its decisions in one fashion or the other at the ballot box.

Kane’s job as attorney general hangs in the balance as she fights criminal charges tied to her leaking secret grand jury information to a reporter.

The court’s Disciplinary Board reportedly is moving to suspend Kane’s law license because of the criminal charges, an action that could leave her unable to function as attorney general.

The court decided two weeks ago to publicly release hundreds of pornographic and objectionable emails shared among state prosecutors on state computers from 2008 to 2012 by unsealing grand jury filings — a move Kane said is significant to her defense against the charges.

Kane contends the charges against her stem from efforts to prevent the release of those embarrassing emails.

“It’s a delicate time,” Ernie Preate, a Scranton attorney who served as attorney general in the 1990s, said. “They are short people on the Supreme Court. They are in the midst of an election and the head of the attorney general’s office is before them to have a determination whether she can keep her law license or not.”

Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf and other elected officials have called on Kane to resign. However, she has her supporters too. A pro-Kane group plans a rally on Thursday outside the Pennsylvania Judicial Center.

The Kane saga swirls as seven candidates campaign for three Supreme Court seats on the Nov. 3 ballot.

This is the first time three Supreme Court seats are on the ballot in the same year. It’s because of a rare combination of one mandatory retirement and two justices resigning over scandals. Justice Seamus McCaffery resigned last year after being implicated in the porn email scandal.

One of the candidates, Philadelphia Judge Paul Panepinto, is running as an independent.

The three Republican candidates are Superior Court Judge Judy Olson, Adams County Judge Mike George and Commonwealth Court Judge Anne Covey. The three Democratic candidates are Philadelphia Judge Kevin Dougherty, Superior Court Judge David Wecht and Superior Court Judge Christine Donohue.

Judge Panepinto said he thinks Kane’s problems create an opening for an independent to win.

“If there’s a silver lining in the latest saga involving Kathleen Kane, it’s that perhaps the people have a yearning for independent public servants looking to remove government — especially the Supreme Court — from the morass of party politics,” he said.

An academic sees trouble ahead for Democratic candidates this fall.

“I don’t think Kane’s problems will have a direct impact on the judicial elections, but her legal struggles, coupled with those of other Democrats, certainly has cast a negative light over the party as the fall elections approach,” Christopher Borick, a Throop native who is director of the Muhlenberg College Institute of Public Opinion, said.

Bruce Ledewitz, professor of law at Duquesne University School of Law, outlined a potential two-step process to remove Kane.

The Supreme Court suspending her law license upon recommendation of the disciplinary board would be the first step, Ledewitz, an expert on the state Constitution, said. The second step would invoke the rarely used Article VI, Section 7 in the constitution concerning removal of civil officers. The governor would remove Kane for “reasonable cause” upon a two-thirds Senate vote.

“Everything in this case screams of political implications,” Ledewitz said.

Borick suggested any action to remove Kane would likely happen after the election.

“The prudent path is to let political and public opinion to continue to build against her while the legal proceedings play out,” he said.

The Supreme Court showed it could navigate a treacherous political current when it unsealed the porn emails, observers said. These emails contained images of graphic sexual acts involving nude women and stereotypical images and captions relating to blacks and women.

The court made the emails available for public review.

“The release is a smart move in terms of taking away Kane’s chosen line of defense,” Borick said. “With those emails out there, it will ultimately put the focus back on her and the problems that’s around her.”

Teens damage parked vehicles

Pottsville police investigated a crash that occurred about 3:45 p.m. Thursday in the 1000 block of West Market Street.

Police said Ryan Flanagan, 18, of Pottsville, was driving east on West Market Street when his vehicle drifted to the right and struck a legally parked vehicle, pushing that vehicle into another legally parked vehicle and causing damage to both.

Police said Flanagan and his two 18-year-old male passengers were taken to Schuylkill Medical Center-East Jackson Street by Schuylkill EMS for evaluation.

Police said Flanagan will be cited for careless driving as a result of the crash and that the road was shut down for time while emergency police were on the scene and the investigation was conducted.

Pottsville firefighters and fire police assisted at the scene.

Woman arrested for drug offenses

MAHANOY CITY — A borough woman was arrested by Mahanoy City police for drug violations after an incident occurred Aug. 7 at her 514 W. Mahanoy Ave. home.

Police said Sierra J. Alansky-Cook, 19, was charged with possession of a small amount of marijuana, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Police said officers and state police went to the home about 10 p.m. for an access device fraud that state police were investigating, and, after obtaining permission to search the home for stolen items, officers found a small amount of marijuana and various items of drug paraphernalia.

Police arrest man with heroin

MAHANOY CITY — Mahanoy City police filed drug charges against a borough man after an incident occured about 2:20 a.m. Sunday in the 900 block of East Mahanoy Ave.

Police said Christopher M. Reed, 27, of 215 E. Mahanoy Ave., was charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and public drunkenness and will now have to answer before Magisterial District Judge Anthony J. Kilker, Shenandoah.

Police said officers were called to the area for a report of a man with a syringe in his hand bouncing off cars. At the scene, officers found Reed under the influence and in possession of a plastic bag of heroin in his pocket, along with a syringe.

At the station, police said, Reed became unresponsive, requiring EMS to be called. When he became responsive again, police said, the man admitted doing about three bags of heroin before officers found him.

Man damages 2 motorcycles

MAHANOY CITY — A Barnesville man was charged by Mahanoy City police in connection with a criminal mischief incident that occurred about 1:20 a.m. Aug. 21 at 338 W. South St.

Police said Kevin S. Bosworth, 20, of 796 Barnesville Drive, will have to appear in district court on four counts of criminal mischief and one count of disorderly conduct.

Bosworth was in the area when he walked up to and pushed over a 2007 Harley- Davidson Softail motorcycle owned by John Bowman Jr., causing it to strike the front of a 2006 Harley-Davidson Sportster motorcycle owned by his father, John Bowman.

After knocking the motorcycles over, police said, Bosworth fled the scene on foot.

Damage was listed at $1,536.34 to the 2007 motorcycle and $558.62 to the 2006 motorcycle, police said.

Witness hears shots, calls police

LYKENS — State police at Lykens are investigating a disorderly conduct incident that occurred about 7:10 p.m. Thursday at 178 N. Market St. in this Dauphin County community.

Police said a witness walking his dog in the area of the Lykens water treatment plant saw a black Jeep Wrangler pull up to the plant, where a person pulled out a shotgun and fired.

There were remnants of goose feathers and blood in the area, police said.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 717-362-8700, or the state Game Commission.

GIRARDVILLE — State police at Frackville are investigating the death of a Minersville man who suffered cardiac arrest early Friday shortly after police used a stun gun to subdue him, police said Saturday.

Lucas Markus, 33, was pronounced dead Saturday afternoon at Penn State Hershey Medical Group’s St. Joseph Medical Center, Reading, according to a police report issued Saturday afternoon by Trooper David Beohm, public information officer for Pennsylvania State Police, Troop L, Reading.

The time of death was 2:35 p.m. Saturday, and the autopsy will be conducted at 10 a.m. today, Berks County Assistant Chief Deputy Coroner Jonn M. Hollenbach, Reading, said Saturday night.

At 4:10 a.m. Friday, state police at Frackville were dispatched to the intersection of Main and Second streets in Girardville. There were numerous complaints of a man, later identified as Markus, running up and down Main Street in that vicinity. He was yelling and trying to get into passing cars, police said.

“Markus did not respond to verbal commands from the troopers. Markus was subsequently tasered. As he was being handcuffed, he went into cardiac arrest,” according to police.

Police immediately called for an ambulance and began CPR. Markus was transported by helicopter to St. Joseph Medical Center.

The police said the investigation into the cause of the man’s death is ongoing.

HAMBURG — Chris Skuczas spent his Saturday morning in the heart of the borough grilling hamburgers by the dozens for the 12th annual Taste of Hamburg-er Festival.

Just after 11 a.m., hundreds of people were milling about the intersection on North Forth and State streets as numerous vendors got grilling for the festival.

“These are bacon and cheddar burgers,” Skuczas, Palo Alto, an assistant manager with Weis Market Store 181 in Hamburg, said as he cooked up as many as 30 burgers at one time over a steaming grill.

“This is our fourth year vending at this event. Every year it seems to get bigger. I think it’s because it’s been getting more exposure. And people look forward to it every year. We brought 1,300 burgers last year. This year, we brought 1,600,” store manager Eric Bitting, Shillington, Berks County, said.

“The amount of people who come through is impressive, absolutely impressive. With the food and the festivities, and it being a town called Hamburg with a hamburger fest, it’s become quite an event. I get a kick out of it,” Skuczas said.

For some communities, annual festivals are like annual holidays, important dates on the calendar. For Hamburg, this festival has certainly become one.

“I remember being here the first year, and some people walking around felt it was going to be a one-year deal. But it worked, and it became a big draw where they ended up shutting down the downtown. I think it’s the food. There are a lot of choices and a lot of things to see,” Dennis A. Miller, Scoutmaster for Boy Scout Troop 184 of Hamburg, said.

“It just keeps getting bigger and bigger every year. It’s a different event, and it’s a street event rather than being an event set in a park. It’s neat because it’s seven blocks in our downtown. So people who come in get not only the arts and crafts and the burgers, but they can stroll in and out of the businesses,” Deena Kershner, executive director of Hamburg’s Our Town Foundation, which organizes the event, said.

“I don’t know how much bigger it can get,” Miller said.

More than 35,000 people came out to the 2014 festival, and Kershner believed at least that many visited the borough Saturday. There were also more vendors than last year, she said.

“Last year, we probably had a little bit over 200 vendors. That’s a combination of everything, including local businesses who set things out. I’d say we had about 175 vendors who came into town last year, including crafters, artists and food stands. This year, we have more. This year we opened the whole M&T parking lot for more vendors. This year, 297 spaces were assigned. Total, we have at least 250 vendors. Plus, we have five stages of entertainment and 20 different bands,” Kershner said.

“It’s my first year here. I found a pamphlet at a place and I had it since July and I said ‘we should go,’ ” Andrew J. Dean, Hummelstown, Dauphin County, said as he approached a stand run by Deitsch Eck (Dutch Corner), Lenhartsville, Berks County.

There was a line more than five people deep. He stood and waited to try a burger called The Luther.

“It’s a bacon cheeseburger on a glazed doughnut,” Dean said.

He plunked down $7 for one. And after he took a bite, he said it was worth it.

“It’s excellent! It does play well, the sweetness and the salty,” Dean said.

Every year the crowds get bigger and, because of that, many of the returning hamburger vendors try to up their game.

Last year, Deitsch Eck cooked up and sold 1,900 patties.

“This year, we brought 2,200. And, by the looks of the line, it looks like we’ll sell out again,” chef and owner Steven M. Stetzler, Lenhartsville, said.

The Inn of Orwigsburg had a stand at the intersection of North Third and State streets, and Maria Wolfe, Schuylkill Haven, was serving 8-ounce angus burgers, including “Mushroom Swiss” burgers.

“The Mushroom Swiss is outstanding!” Wolfe shouted to folks lining up.

“This is our fifth year. Last year, we did 600 burgers last year. This year, we brought 700. Each year it seems like it’s growing. There are a lot of different burgers out there. I think people are interested in what different things vendors are doing. Ours are a hand-patted fresh angus burger, not a frozen patty. This year, we added tacos. You can do anything with your menu here as long as its ground-beef based. Every year we try to do one thing that’s different to pique people’s interest,” Daniel Reppy, Hamburg, who has owned the Inn for 26 years, said.

Boy Scout Troop 184 of Hamburg were grilling burgers on South Fourth Street near Pine Street. Specialties on their menu included the Scoutmaster, a double burger with bacon and cheese and the Tiger Burger, which is a burger with hot sauce.

“I think every year people get to try our burgers then they tell other people about them,” said John J. Schultz, 16, of Hamburg, an Eagle Scout working a grill made out of a metal barrel and filled with charcoal briquettes and firewood. After turning a couple flame-broiled patties over, he sprinkled them with a dash of McCormick Grill Mates Montreal Steak seasoning.

As a finishing touch, the scouts also used a branding iron to burn the Boy Scout symbol onto the top of the hamburger buns.

“This is our 11th time vending here. As the event grew, we learned how to prep for it. Last year, we made a little over 600 hamburgers. And we sold out. This year, we brought 700. I hope we don’t have to go out for more,” Miller said.

Among the new attractions this year was a beer garden set up by Gretz Distribution, Hatfield, a tie in to the Anheuser-Busch “Bud and Burgers” national summer promotion, Kershner said.

And Gretz set up “The Bud and Burgers Beer Garden” at 222 State St. On Saturday, the bar was serving cocktails and encouraging visitors to sign up to win a backyard BBQ donated by Gretz.

The event has traditionally had a beer garden at the corner of Fourth and Pine streets, and this year that one was called the “Beer and Wine Patty-O,” Kershner said.

ASHLAND — With cheerleaders waving reflective red and blue pom-poms, a team of mini-cars and string bands on trucks, the community continued one of the borough’s Labor Day weekend traditions.

Early Saturday evening, the 113th Ashland Boys Association Parade rolled through the borough in the golden rays of the setting sun.

Stephanie Abalo, president of the Ashland Mummers Association, said there were “more than 175 people” in the parade.

“We’re trying to bring the parade back to what it was years ago. Tonight, we had 33 units. I’m not sure how many they had last year. For the last few years it was only a motor parade, all vehicles on wheels. And we lost some of the people who used to come into town for it. But this year, we had walkers back in the parade,” Abalo said Saturday night.

The parade’s grand marshal was Chairman Adam J. Bernodin III, 40, of Ashland, who was chairman of the Ashland Mummers Historical Marker Committee. Bernodin started the effort in 2010. By 2012, the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission approved the nomination to honor the Ashland Boys Association with a historical marker.

“It’s a nice, great day for everybody. And this is an honor,” Bernodin said as he drove in the parade in his father’s blue 1969 Dodge Charger.

The first ABA parade was held in 1900. In May 2009, the Ashland Mummers cancelled the 2009 parade for numerous reasons, including a lack of donations and volunteers. In 2010, the Ashland Elks Lodge’s youth group, the Ashland Antlers, honored the spirit of the ABA parade by carrying a “Welcome ABA” banner and dressing up as coal miners. In 2011, the parade officially returned in a revised format with no marching units. And it has been held every year since.

Saturday’s parade traveled up Walnut Street, then continued down Centre Street.

Among those in the crowd was Michelle Kaminski, Ringtown, who was there to see her two daughters, Caileigh, 9, and Avery, 7, march with the cheerleaders for Frackville Mountaineers football.

“This is the first year I came out to it, and that’s because of the girls being in the parade,” Kaminski said.

Sitting near St. Charles Borromeo Roman Catholic Church on the 1100 block of Walnut Street was a family who recalled the ABA parade in its heyday.

“Years ago, it used to take two hours for it to all go by. Years ago, on parade night, you couldn’t even get into town,” Suzy Fetterolf, Lavelle, said. “Years ago, if you didn’t have your chair out here by 8 o’clock in the morning, you weren’t getting a spot,” her husband, Paul, said.

“It all depended on how many people came,” Suzy said.

Paul, 59, an Ashland native, remembered the parades in the 1960s and 1970s quite fondly.

“They had the vendors in here around 9 o’clock in the morning. I think it peaked in the late ’70s. When I was a kid we used to sit down on Third Street. This is when I was his age,” Paul said, referring to his grandson, Bruce Cuthie, 9, of Ringtown. “And back then, the streets were shut off. You’d be there all day.”

They still support the parades when they’re held.

“For a while, you’d notice there was less and less of a parade every year. Some people don’t want to do anything anymore, donate or volunteer. We’ll see if it changes any in the next couple years. It would be nice,” Paul said.

Units in Saturday’s parade included the Rajah Shriners from Forks of the Delaware Shrine Club Tin Lizzies, Easton; the Northeast Variety Band; the Rajah Temple String Band of Reading; fire trucks representing community fire companies and an antique engine from New Ringgold.

“It’s from 1946,” Albert Miscannon, Shenandoah, a member of the Schuylkill Historical Fire Society, said. He was in charge of driving the historic engine.

“We’d like to thank the businesses and the local people for supporting us. And we look forward to seeing everyone next year,” Abalo said.

As time moves forward, special events and items in our lives fade into memories. Every so often, we see something that triggers those memories and creates a sense of nostalgia.

As the Frackville Museum prepares to celebrate its fourth anniversary, the crew is setting up displays featuring items from the past that will provoke a yearning for a time when these artifacts were new and prominent. The exhibits will be featured at an anniversary open house set from 1 to 4 p.m. Sept. 13.

Lorraine Stanton, museum director, said the theme for the open house is "Americana Collections." Throughout the years, Americans have built collections of items special to them, such as teacups, while collectors gather memorabilia from companies such as Coca-Cola and Avon. These collections sparked the idea for the open house theme.

"Everybody has their own idea of what they want to save, which is great," Stanton said.

The items are the latest additions to the Frackville Museum, which opened in September 2011.

It was a dream project for Stanton that began in 1974 as the borough prepared for its centennial celebration. According to a museum brochure, Stanton began interviewing residents in what would become Old Frackville Times - articles published in the Shenandoah Evening Herald. The articles ran from 1975 until the centennial edition in August 1976. She continued her historical journey for many years. A few years ago, the borough council agreed to offer Stanton a space for her collection and the museum made its home in the Frackville Municipal & Community Center, 42 S. Center St.

The museum is made up of donated items. Most items are from local people, but Stanton said one of the items in the Americana Collections came from Colorado.

"People are very generous with donations, especially with hats and dishes from American culture. That's what we are focusing on for the fourth anniversary," she said.

The exhibits feature pieces from people whose names visitors will easily recognize, such as Norman Rockwell and Thornton Utz. These men were famous for their paintings in the Saturday Evening Post, and some of the items in the museum decorated with their art include mugs, plates and bells.

Stanton said people will also enjoy a collection of items adorned with images of Betty Boop - the Queen of Cartoons - as well as the Campbell Soup Kids.

The highlight of the collections, according to Stanton, is the Avon collectibles. Stanton said Avon is a true American enterprise and many people remember the products.

A main component of the Avon collection is the Mrs. Albee Award statues. The statues were given to saleswomen who reached a significant level of product sales. The etagere they are displayed on was donated by Frank Wagner, a 1963 Frackville High School graduate. For the men, there is a collection of vintage car cologne bottles.

Other significant pieces include a hutch donated by Diane Hayek, punch bowl and glasses donated by Dave Bowen, Ethan Allen table and chairs donated by the high school Classes of 1949 and 1950, a vintage setting that includes an antique washstand with bowl, pitcher and chamber pot donated by Allen Yudacufski, shaving mugs donated by Barry Janov and Liz Puls, and hair clippers donated by Jim Kiefer.

While donations are the lifeline of the museum, the volunteers are its heartbeat.

"It's an interesting place to volunteer because you are always meeting people," Stanton said.

She said they currently have 10 volunteers on and off.

"The number of volunteers have been great. They are an asset to the community," Stanton said.

In accordance with the fourth anniversary, the museum has released a DVD called "Photographs and Memories" containing scenes of Frackville from its earliest days to present. The DVD is in chronological order and also shows the museum's grand opening in 2011 to current exhibits. The DVD costs $20 at the museum or $25 by mail.

For people interested in seeing the Americana Collections, the museum is open once a month, usually the second Sunday of the month. However, visitors can make an appointment by calling Stanton at 570-874-2814.

FOUNTAIN SPRINGS — It was a homecoming of sorts, though a sad one, as hundreds of alumni, their families and others visited the former Cardinal Brennan High School campus and toured the former Catholic high school.

The tour and open house brought back many memories of good times in the classrooms, in the field house and on the athletic fields to those who took advantage of the invitation by the North Schuylkill School District, which now owns the property.

“I forgot how beautiful it is,” a woman said as she walked with her friend through the campus to the classroom building.

The former Catholic high school closed its doors eight years ago, but the devotion to the school by so many who earned their high school diplomas and made so many friends is still in many alumni’s hearts.

Even though the classrooms are empty of desks, people wandered through the halls, entering rooms as if it were yesterday and remembering teachers and telling stories of those past days. The same was the case going through the field house where athletic activities, such as basketball games and gym classes, were held, and also where diplomas were distributed during commencement exercises.

In some rooms, there was a chair or two remaining. A classroom still had a bumper sticker above a blackboard stating, “Cardinal Brennan H.S./Keep the Faith!” The former chapel still contains the organ, which Mary Kay Squires, Girardville, played briefly. The confessional also remains and still has the chair and cushion used by the priest to hear confessions.

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. The former Cardinal Brennan campus is expected to provide room to deal with lack of space in the existing high school and elementary buildings and provide additional facilities for sports programs.

The open house was scheduled to begin at noon, but district Superintendent Robert Ackell said people were arriving about two hours earlier.

“We got here to open doors and turn on lights and there were people waiting after 10 o’clock,” Ackell said as he stood in front the classroom building and greeted people. “Everything is open except for two stairwells that lead outside. The administration team is also here. ”

Ackell said the district office has been busy with phone calls asking about the open house.

“We’ve been hearing about classes trying to get together and coming as a group and maybe going out to eat afterwards. We have people here from Allentown, northern Pennsylvania. They’re all coming back. I am expecting a very heavy turnout.”

Ackell said no decisions have been made about the classroom building. The school district has been maintaining the campus.

“We are using the fieldhouse/gym and the fields around it,” Ackell said. “We’ll soon be doing feasibility studies and see what our options are on costs for renovating or demolishing. We’ll put some thought into it.”

There was continual traffic from Academy Lane through the campus, with vehicles parking where they could, some tagged with out-of-state license plates. Getting into the school meant standing in line outside to get to the doors and sign in.

As people toured the campus buildings, many of them found friends also going down memory lane, stopping to talk for a time. Some also brought their children to show them where they went to high school and graduated.

One of the visitors was the Monsignor Robert J. Wargo, pastor of St. Joseph the Worker Roman Catholic Church in Orefield. A Mahanoy City native, he attended from 1960 to 1962 when it was Immaculate Heart High School.

“I left in my junior year to go to the seminary,” Wargo said. “At one time, we had the highest ratio of seminarians of any high school in the diocese. We had eight or nine seminarians in the 1960s.”

When asked what he remembered in those two years at the school, Wargo said, “I remember the long ride coming from Mahanoy City to Immaculate Heart. Most of all, I remember the classmates. We just had our 50th reunion a year or so ago, and we still keep in touch. It (the school) was not that big that you weren’t able to remember and follow each other through the years. Also the fact that we had IHM sisters teaching here. They were great to us. It was a great foundation for the future.”

The school’s 80-year 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-girls 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. His 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 to that time.

Cardinal Brennan died July 2, 1968, and did not have the opportunity to visit the school named after him.

After 39 years as Cardinal Brennan, the school was closed June 8, 2007, by the diocese at the end of the 2006-07 school year.

Angela Jordan, Gordon, graduated from Cardinal Brennan in 1980. A native of Frackville, she walked through the halls and remembered.

“I graduated in 1980 and my son, Justin, was in the last class to graduate in 2007,” Jordan said. “I have nothing but good memories. I couldn’t wait to walk through again and see everything. When we came down that lane, it was two different worlds. It was peaceful and everybody got along. It was an awesome time. The teachers were awesome, the pep rallies, all of that. It was just the best here. It’s four years I will never, ever forget.”

Jordan also expressed sadness in what has happened with the closing.

“It’s sad. I’m very glad that it’s going to remain a school, but it’s sad that it’s not going to remain Cardinal Brennan,” she said. “I just never thought it would close down. It’s a part of history. I’d bring it if I could.”

Girardville native Vince Majikas graduated in 1964 and now lives in Colorado. When asked what he remembers about being at Immaculate Heart, he said, “Antics. I only had one Saturday detention. My old man found out about it, though. He asked me why I was going to school on Saturday, but I didn’t tell him. I said I had to work because we had bus problems. I have very fond memories. We didn’t appreciate it when we were here. A lot of fine people went through here.”

A Port Carbon man returned to prison Friday after a Schuylkill County judge revoked his parole.

Zackary M. Freeze, 29, must remain in prison until Oct. 1 before he can apply for parole again, and could be confined until Aug. 22, 2016, under the terms of Judge Charles M. Miller’s sentence.

“We’d like you to get yourself straightened out,” Miller told Freeze. “You should be setting an example.”

Miller revoked Freeze’s parole after the defendant admitted violating it by using methamphetamine.

“You’d have to be insane to take that stuff,” Miller said to the defendant. “You’ve got to really clean up your act.”

Freeze originally pleaded guilty on Sept. 24, 2014, to recklessly endangering another person, with prosecutors withdrawing a charge of endangering the welfare of children.

At that time, Miller sentenced him to serve one to 18 months in prison with immediate parole and to pay costs and $50 to the Criminal Justice Enhancement Account.

Minersville police charged Freeze with endangering a child on June 14, 2011, in the borough.

FRACKVILLE — It was a joyful celebration of 100 years of faith and service on Sunday morning in Holy Ascension Orthodox Church during a Divine Liturgy to thank God for a century of blessings.

The church was standing room only and was filled 20 minutes before the Divine Liturgy. The pews hold about 120 people, but the number was much more than 200. Some sat in the choir loft, others sat in folding chairs along both sides of the center aisle and in the back, while others stood through the two-hour service.

The Divine Liturgy was celebrated by the Most Rev. Mark, archbishop of Philadelphia and Eastern Pennsylvania. The Very Rev. Archpriest James M. Jadick, pastor, concelebrated with the archbishop.

Other concelebrating priests were three “sons of the parish” — the Very Rev. Joseph Martin, the Rev. James Weremedic and the Very Rev. Gregory Dudash — a former pastor, the Very Rev. Paul Ropitsky (1968-2003), the Very Rev. Daniel Ressetar and the Very Rev. Michael Hatrak.

The church is a landmark in Frackville, easily seen from its position on a huge rock and overlooking Lehigh Avenue. The three golden cupolas, or onion-shaped domes, catch the sunlight and shine brightly as a “light of the world,” referring to the Gospel according to St. Matthew. Assisting was Deacon Gregory Hatrak.

In recent years, the parish has seen an increase in membership, something that shows its Orthodox Christian mission in Frackville and beyond the borough will continue into the future.

Before the Divine Liturgy, prayers were chanted by parishioner Douglas Rudenko and the church choir. In Orthodox churches, prayers, readings and hymns are chanted without accompaniment of musical instruments.

The reading of the Second Epistle of St. Paul to the Corinthians was presented by Richard Chwastiak in the center aisle, with Michael Cuttic standing behind him holding a trikiri, a three-candle liturgical candlesticks. After the reading of the Gospel of Matthew by Deacon Hatrak, Archbishop Mark presented his sermon on a king inviting people he knows to his banquet and the invitations being turned down, and the king tells his servants to find people along the highways and byways and welcome them.

“As I study this parable and I look at it, I don’t think this parable is simply called as a rejection of the Jewish people at the time of Christ and an acceptance of the mission to the Gentiles,” Archbishop Mark said. “But it is a warning to us that God expects his people to bear fruit, and if we don’t bear fruit, when (Jesus) comes at the Second Coming, we will not be received to the heavenly kingdom. Our baptism is the equivalent of the passing through the Red Sea. Yes, we pass through the Red Sea as God’s people, but baptism is not the end. It is the beginning. And unless we bear fruit, we may hear on the last and great day, ‛Depart from me, you workers of iniquity. I do not know you.”

Archbishop Mark congratulated the parish on reaching the 100-year milestone.

“As I pray as we celebrate this wonderful anniversary, as we come together to celebrate this 100 years, that we will be at peace, one with another, because we love Christ,” he said.

According to the church history, the dawn of the 20th century found a few Slavic families in Frackville and Maizeville who were determined to worship God in a church that maintained a canonical attachment to their Mother Orthodox Church in Russia. Holy Ascension is currently affiliated with the Orthodox Church in America.

In 1914, 21 men gathered at the home of Michael Halenda in Frackville with their purpose to organize a Russian Orthodox church. The men with their families began holding services in a church on Broad Mountain Avenue (now Annunciation BVM Church). The Very Rev. Joseph Fedoronko and Professor Elias Boruch from the Orthodox Church in Coaldale rendered their services during these initial months.

The Rev. Andrew Vanyush was appointed as first pastor, and under the guidance of the newly appointed pastor, a plot of ground on the corner of South Lehigh Avenue and Chestnut Street was purchased. After a hard day’s work in the mines, the men, together with many neighbors and friends, gathered at the future church site to excavate the ground and build the foundation. It should be noted that some of the men from the parish mortgaged their homes in order for the church to be built.

On June 15, 1915, the cornerstone was laid and blessed by Archbishop Evdokim, the ruling primate of the Russian Orthodox Church of America. The church was named the Holy Ascension Russian Orthodox Greek-Catholic Church. From then on, the work progressed rapidly so that by the end of 1915, the present church was consecrated.

Work has been done over the years at the original church, which has served the parish in the past century.

After the Divine Liturgy, a banquet was held at the Fountain Springs Country Inn.

Marriage licenses

Kevin E. Smith II, New Ringgold, and Lauren N. Hamby, New Ringgold.

Greg A. Stewart, Orwigsburg, and Alicia L. Karabinas, Orwigsburg.

Matthew A. Sweitzer, Frackville, and Amanda E. Farver, Frackville.

William J. Murphy, Port Carbon, and Cassandra D. Olmstead, Port Carbon.

Thomas R. Eye, Frackville, and Tina M. Ilsley, Port Carbon.

Adam J. Haney, Pine Grove, and Amanda N. Witherow, Pine Grove.

Shawn M. Butler, Frackville, and Shannon M. Brennan, Frackville.

Codey L. Bailer, Pine Grove, and Kendal D. Cooper, Port Carbon.

Timothy W. Bradbury II, Mahanoy City, and Cassandra D. Spatz, Mahanoy City.

Matthew Dusel, Auburn, and Angelina Rivera, Auburn.

Andrew J. Oxenrider, Pitman, and Molly V. Krout, Pitman.

Matthew B. Fischer, Pine Grove, and Brandy L. Krause, Pine Grove.

Eric L. Moyer, Frackville, and Jaclyn M. Bankes, Frackville.

Matthew R. Hummel, Fredericksburg, Va., and Shannon M. Heffner, Fredericksburg, Va.

Daniel T. Sullivan, Auburn, and Roby C. Dippel, Auburn.

Jay P. Stidham, Tamaqua, and Noelle C. Lesisko, Tamaqua.

Kyle M. Belanchik, Tamaqua, and Shelly E. Rex, Tamaqua.

Jonathan S. Ships, Valley View, and Kristen N. Quisenberry, Valley View.

Nicholas J. Miller, Schuylkill Haven, and Elena M. Moyer, Schuylkill Haven.

Matthew J. Umholtz, Valley View, and Kelsey A. Reading, Valley View.

Darren E. Overby, Binghamton, N.Y., and Amanda L. Rennick, Binghamton, N.Y.

William R. Ebert, Pottsville, and Nicole C. McCabe, Pottsville.

GIRARDVILLE — Following an autopsy Sunday, the investigation is continuing into the death of a Minersville man who suffered cardiac arrest early Friday shortly after police attempted to subdue him with a stun gun, according to a representative of the Office of the Berks County Coroner, Reading.

“The autopsy did not reveal anything conclusive. The cause of death is still under investigation, pending toxicology and histopathology,” Jonn M. Hollenbach, the assistant chief deputy coroner in Berks County, said Sunday afternoon.

NMS Labs, Willow Grove, is conducting the additional tests, via Penn State Hershey Medical Group’s St. Joseph Medical Center, Reading, and the process could take up to four to six weeks, Hollenbach said.

The body of Lucas Markus, 33, of Minersville, was released to his family after the autopsy Sunday, Hollenbach said.

At 4:10 a.m. Friday, state police at Frackville were dispatched to Main and Second streets in Girardville. There were numerous complaints of a man, later identified as Markus, running up and down Main Street in that vicinity. He was yelling and trying to get into passing cars, according to Trooper David Beohm, public information officer for Pennsylvania State Police, Troop L, Reading.

“Markus did not respond to verbal commands from the troopers. Markus was subsequently tasered. As he was being handcuffed, he went into cardiac arrest,” according to police.

Police immediately called for an ambulance and began CPR. Markus was transported by helicopter to St. Joseph Medical Center.

Markus was pronounced dead there at 2:35 p.m. Saturday, Hollenbach said.

Dr. Richard P. Bindie, a forensic pathologist, conducted the autopsy Sunday morning at Reading Hospital, West Reading, Hollenbach said.

“All autopsies for the Berks County Coroner’s Office are done at Reading Hospital with one of three forensic pathologists,” Hollenbach said.

A similar case occurred Aug. 8, 2014, when police in Tamaqua shocked Jose Paulino Jr., 38, with a Taser, after Paulino refused to be taken into custody. Paulino died en route to St. Luke’s Hospital-Miners Campus, Coaldale.

Boehm said the incident began about 4 a.m. at Fegley’s Mini Market, 30-32 Centre St. Tamaqua police officers were called to the business for a report of a man running around the parking lot shouting obscenities.

The man, later identified as Paulino, ran to the Sunoco station next to Fegley’s. When officers arrived, Paulino “was noncompliant” toward their commands and continued to act aggressively. At that point, officers used their Tasers several times on Paulino until they were able to take him into custody, Boehm said in a release at the time.

An autopsy conducted Aug. 9, 2014, at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest by forensic pathologist Dr. Barbara Bollinger was initially inconclusive, Schuylkill County Coroner Dr. David J. Moylan III said Sunday night.

Earlier this year, the case was closed when the cause of death was determined.

“The cause of death was he had a diseased heart that was aggravated by the use of a synthetic marijuana, K2/Spice,” Moylan said.

Orwigsburg group

events on Square

ORWIGSBURG — The community heritage celebration will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday on the Market Street Square, rain or shine. It will include music, crafts, demonstrations, artists, games, food and vendors, part of the Square Time Events.

Yet another event, Chili & Chills cookoff, is set for 5:30 to 10 p.m. Oct. 17 at the Memorial Building. “Put on your costume and come.”

For more information on any of the events, call Veronica at 570-691-6886.

Chamber slates

myriad events

The Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce Membership Appreciation Mixer will be held from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Sept. 16 hosted by the Walk In Art Center, 110 Columbia Ave., Schuylkill Haven.

It will be “An Andy Warhol Evening,” with food carts featuring hot dogs, hamburgers, beer, water and soda, plus a special grand prize drawing for a 50-inch smart HDTV and a second drawing to benefit the nonprofit of the winner’s choice. The cost is $5 per person and reservations are required.

For reservations or more information about any chamber event, call 800-755-1942.

The chamber’s Networking Before 9 breakfast will begin at 7:45 a.m. Wednesday at Massari’s Blu Tavern, 1323 Bunting St., Pottsville.

The chamber’s Networking for Business with Lori Kane of McCann School of Business & Technology will be held from 8:30 to 10 a.m. Sept. 23 at the chamber conference center, Union Station, 1 Progress Circle (second floor) Pottsville.

The cost is $25 for chamber members and $50 for nonmembers. The registration deadline is Sept. 21.

A power networking session is set for 11:45 a.m. Sept. 23 at Mountain Valley Golf Course, Barnesville. The cost is $20 for chamber members and $25 for nonmembers and the reservation deadline is Sept. 21.

The chamber will have a member orientation from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Sept. 30 at Schaeffer’s Harley-Davidson, 1123 Brick Hill Road, Orwigsburg. There is no cost to attend but registration is requested. The session will be presented by the chamber staff.

A chamber 5th Wednesday Mix & Mingle will follow from 5 to 7 p.m. Sept. 30 at Schaeffer’s sponsored by Schaeffer’s Harley-Davidson and Fulton Bank. Registration is requested.

The 15th annual Walk for Progress to mark Chamber of Commerce Month is set for 4:30 to 7 p.m. Oct. 6, according to a chamber flier.

The walk will begin at 4:30 p.m. at the chamber offices at the Union Station parking lot, head up the west side of Centre Street to The Greystone restaurant, cross the street at Laurel Boulevard, continue on the east side of Centre Street and end at The Ball Room at the Ramada.

The cost is $10 per person and each participant will receive a reusable bag filled with goodies courtesy of Wegmans. There will be prizes for most spirited team and largest team.

Also on the chamber’s agenda is a session called “Building a Mentoring Relationship & Managing Expectations” with Ceil Michalik of Michalik Consulting LLC, from 9 to 11 a.m. Oct. 7 at Lehigh Carbon Community College, 234 High St., Tamaqua.

The cost is $97 for chamber members and $194 for nonmembers. The reservation deadline is Oct. 5. Call the chamber office to make a reservation.

The chamber’s commissioner debate breakfast is set for Oct. 14 at the Schuylkill Country Club, Orwigsburg. The chamber is accepting questions for the candidates. Questions should be submitted to Bob Carl, chamber executive director.

Cartridge service

open house set

CRESSONA — A Goodwill Cartridge Service open house is slated for 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 14 at Goodwill Keystone Area, Cressona Mall, Route 61 South.

According to a Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce flier, in 2014, Goodwill Cartridge Service remanufactured 5,576 cartridges “by trained, experienced technicians.” Learn how you can recycle cartridges and help use reduce the amount of plastic put into landfills. Join us on a tour of our cartridge service facility and see demonstrations on how we remanufacture and package laser toner cartridges.

Light refreshments will be provided, according to the release.

For more information or to RSVP, call Kristy Carduff at 570-385-6936 or 800-590-6865, ext. 2604, or email to kcarduff@yourgoodwill.org.

MAEA slates

law summit

The Pottsville-based Northeast Pennsylvania Manufacturers and Employers Association is taking registrations for its eighth annual Labor and Employment Law Summit to be held Sept. 24 at Top of the 80s restaurant near Hazleton.

The summit, according to an MAEA press release, will cover “a wide variety of relevant and timely topics in the area of labor and employment law that have been chosen by members.”

The cost is $175 for MAEA members and $350 for nonmembers.

The session will start at 8:30 a.m. with the opening and welcome, followed by the first general session with keynote speaker Brian E. Hayes, former member of the National Labor Relations Board and shareholder in the Washington, D.C., office of Ogletree Deakins. He will focus on regulatory developments.

The first breakout session will be at 10:20 a.m. In a session, Attorney Thomas A. Smock with Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C., Pittsburgh, will lead the discussion and in another session, Jacob M. Theis, associate for Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney P.C., Harrisburg, will give an update on ADA/FMLA case laws.

Following lunch, Claude Schoenberg, a labor and employment law attorney representing employers only, will lead another session on overtime pay in Pennsylvania.

There will also be other breakout sessions regarding insubordination, discipline and discharge and avoiding pitfalls concerning employee use of social media and computers in the workplace.

Completion of all the day’s events will be good for 5.5 HRCI general recertification credits. For more information or to register, call the MAEA office at 570-622-0992.

Dealerships

aid youth soccer

In the spirit of community collaboration and teamwork taught through youth sports, area dealerships are supporting youth soccer programs.

Bob Weaver Chevrolet, Buick GMC, Pottsville, R&R Auto Group, Route 61, Schuylkill Haven, and Vito Rinaldi Chevrolet Inc., Route 924, Shenandoah, are supporting the Pottsville Youth Soccer Association, Schuylkill County Youth Soccer Association and the Shenandoah Youth Soccer Association, respectfully, via sponsorships that include monetary and equipment donations for the 2015 youth soccer season, through the Chevrolet Youth Soccer Program, according to press releases.

Chevrolet Youth Soccer, according to the releases, is a “grassroots initiative that establishes a positive relationship between local dealers and the communities they serve.”

Equipment donations may include soccer balls, ball bags, ball pumps, field cones, coach’s kits, corner flags, scrimmage vests, mini pop-up goals and first-aid kits.

Colette Yanaitis of Bob Weaver Chevrolet, Bob Rinaldi of R&R Auto Group and Vito Rinaldi Chevrolet Inc. said in the releases they are looking forward to “a great season” filled with “exciting games and an enhanced experience for the teams.”

For more information, call Marc Zwerding of the Chevrolet Youth Soccer Team at 888-600-4369 or email info@chevroletsoccer.com.

HEGINS — As Angela Gibson, Leesport, paid her first visit to the Schuylkill County Wine Festival Sunday — now in its seventh year — she sipped a vintage spiced apple and took note to the crowd on the midway.

“I think it’s been getting bigger every year. There are more tents this year. In Schuylkill County, we don’t have many events quite like this. It’s nice people are coming out to support it,” Bonnie Hartman, Pottsville, who had been to the festival before, said. Among the varieties she sampled Sunday was “Fredonia,” a table wine made by Red Shale Ridge Vineyards, Hegins.

“It’s a wonderful day. It’s fun. It’s something to do in Schuylkill County,” Liz Bettinger, Pottsville, who also paid her first visit to the festival Sunday, said.

Mary Tobash, festival co-chairwoman, said the festival averages about 3,000 visitors, including families and groups of friends. Based on the number of people she saw at the park Sunday, she said she believes there would be at least that many there.

“We’ve got good caterers. We’ve got good wineries, and we’ve got good music. We’ve got the perfect place with the park,” Tobash said.

Donna Nye, New Philadelphia, who paid her first visit to the festival Sunday, agreed that the park was a good place for such an event.

“I like the grove because the trees. It’s very magical and serene,” Nye said.

“It’s a perfect place for the wineries to set up. It’s very nice,” Tobash said.

The seventh annual wine festival was held Sunday afternoon at Hegins Park. Tickets were $15 at the gate and $5 for designated drivers. Ticket holders 21 and older with proper identification had the opportunity to sample products from 12 wineries.

They included Benigna’s Creek Vineyard and Winery, Klingerstown; Red Shale Ridge Winery, Hegins; Stone Mountain Wine Cellars, Pine Grove; Long Trout Winery, Auburn; Galen Glen Vineyards and Winery, Andreas; Shade Mountain Vineyards and Winery, Middleburg; Brookmere Winery and Vineyard Inn, Bellville; Armstrong Valley Vineyard and Winery, Halifax; Allegro Winery, Brogue; Spyglass Ridge Winery, Sunbury; Stonekeep Meadery, Birdsboro, and Fieldwood Winery, Schuylkill Haven.

That’s twice as many that were slated at the first wine festival in 2009.

Fieldwood was a new addition this year, Tobash said.

“We actually were not going to invite any more wineries. We can only handle so many. And we want all the wineries here to do well. But we agreed to add them because they were from Schuylkill County,” Tobash said.

“We opened in October 2013. This is our first time here at the festival. And I’m just amazed with how many people are here. It’s huge! It’s amazing,” Rick Watt, president of Fieldwood Winery, said.

“We love it because we get to meet new people and drink wine and make new friends. It’s local and there’s always new vendors coming every year,” Jenn Snyder, Lykens, who was with friends, said.

Aside from the wineries, there were food vendors including Brookside Pub, One Smart Cookie, Scott Dees & Oak Hill Inn, Hegins-Valley View Rotary, The Rib House, Tri-Valley Lions Club and soups by David Lucas, according to the flyer.

For more information, visit the wine festival’s website at www.schuylkillwinefestival.com or its Facebook page.

FRACKVILLE — A former member of Pine Grove Hose Hook and Ladder Fire Company who died earlier this year was remembered Sunday by having his name placed on the Fallen Firefighters Memorial at the Schuylkill County fire training grounds.

Timothy Peters, 47, a past president of the fire company, died April 30, collapsing at his home just hours after responding to assist at a medical emergency call.

The ceremony honoring Peters, along with 37 other county fallen firefighters, was held in conjunction with the Annual Muster of the Schuylkill Historical Fire Society.

Monsignor William Glosser, chaplain of Mahanoy City West End Fire and Rescue Company, said the men and women of the fire service put their lives on the line day in and day out and should be remembered when they make the ultimate sacrifice.

“We remember our brothers who gave their lives for other people,” he said. “They were ordinary men who died doing extraordinary things.”

As part of the service, the names of the 38 Schuylkill County Line Of Duty Deaths were read and after each name a memorial bell was rung, this year by Zachary Peters, son of Timothy Peters and also a Pine Grove firefighter.

“It is our honor and privilege to have this roll call with Zachary ringing the memorial bell,” Glosser said.

Pine Grove fire Chief David Sattizahan said, unfortunately, Peters’ name is the second from his company on the memorial wall. Leo Beck died on April 3, 1968, of a heart attack after responding to an emergency call.

Sattizahan said that the memorial on the fire school grounds is a constant reminder of the men and women of the volunteer service who, each day, risk their lives purely to help others.

“This is a living memorial, it is here all the time,” the chief said.

Peters was also a past president of Pine Grove borough council and is survived by his wife, Lexy, and three children, Kayla, Taryn and Zachary.

Michael Kitsock, president of the historical fire society, said although the memorial has been at the site for more than a 15 years, the death of Peters hits close to home.

“It struck close to home, he died in our time, this is no longer a name on a stone it is someone we worked with and someone we knew,” he said.

As for putting another name on the memorial wall, Kitsock said, “it’s a task we hope we don’t have to do again.”

Sunday’s event was also a way of remembering the history of the fire service.

Kitsock said the 2016 Muster included antique fire apparatus, pumping demonstrations, vendor tables, rides on antique fire apparatus and food.

When the event began more that 15 years ago, Kitsock said he never imagined it would grow into such a success. This year’s event drew people from as far away as New York and West Virginia.

“This is a way to remember the past and make us more appreciative of what we have now,” Kitsock said.

n Aristes: A wildlife habitat workshop will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Weiser State Forest office. Biologists from Pheasants Forever and the state Game Commission will teach how to improve wildlife habitat. There will also be a field trip to view habitat improvement projects. A $10 registration fee was required by Sept. 4. Lunch is included. For more information, call 570-672-9878 or 570-875-6450.

n Minersville: The Minersville Area Skatepark Association will sponsor a theme basket raffle from 6 to 9 p.m. Sept. 19 and noon to 3 p.m. Sept. 20 at Good Will Fire Company, 25 North St. Ticket prices are $1, $5 and $10. Drawings will be at 3 p.m. Sept. 20. Baskets are valued from $25 to $500. They include Disney passes, children’s items, local restaurant gift cards, shopping gift cards, scrapbooking, lottery baskets, traveling and sports games. For more information, call 570-294-6235.

n Pine Grove: Naturalist Dave McSurdy will lead a program about American Indians from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Sunday at Sweet Arrow Lake County Park’s Waterfall parking lot. The program will include questions such as “Were the Native Americans the conservationists we think they were?” “Did the Indians kill only what they could eat?” “Did they really set fire to the woods?” The program is free and open to the public, suitable for teens and adults, according to a release. For more information, call 570-527-2505.

n Ringtown: An Appreciation Day open house sponsored by the Old White Church Preservation Committee will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. Sept. 20 at the historic Old White Church, 189 Cemetery Hill Road. The church will be open for visitors and committee members will be available to answer questions and show the features of the church. All are welcome. For more information, call 570-889-3494.

n Shenandoah: The Polish American Fire Company is sponsoring a bus trip on Sept. 26 to New York City for a day on your own in the Big Apple. The cost is $40 per person. The bus will depart at 7 a.m. from the firehouse, 115 W. Centre St., and leave New York City at 7 p.m. for the return trip. For more information, call 570-462-9572.

n Tamaqua: Penn State Hazleton, Penn State Schuylkill and Lehigh Carbon Community College have partnered to enable students to earn an associate degree at LCCC and a bachelor’s degree from Penn State in “one seamless college experience,” according to a press release. The partnership enables a student to receive an associate degree at LCCC “and then smoothly transition to one of the many bachelor’s degree programs at a local Penn State campus.” The public is invited to learn more during an information session at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Tamaqua Community Arts Center, 125 Pine St. The schools signed the articulation agreement in June and it became effective this fall. Through the agreements, students who earn their associate degree will be provided an academic pathway to transfer into a parallel bachelor’s degree program at the 14 campuses including Penn State Lehigh Valley, Penn State Hazleton, Penn State Schuylkill, Penn State Wilkes-Barre and Penn State Worthington Scranton. The coordination of transferable coursework, assisted by academic advising, will support the successful transition for students, officials said in the release. John E. Morgan Foundation Trustee scholarships are available for LCCC students to transition to Penn State Hazleton, with first preference going to advanced standing/transfer students who are graduates of high schools in Luzerne, Schuylkill, Lehigh and Carbon counties. Penn State Lehigh Valley and other Penn State campuses have a variety of scholarships available to community college transfer students. Financial aid coordinators can assist students in developing a plan. When transferring to Penn State, LCCC students must apply for admission, submit required transcripts and meet Penn State’s admissions requirements. Penn State application fees will be waived for LCCC students who apply for baccalaureate programs. To register to attend the information night, go online to www.hn.psu.edu or call 570-450-3142.

ASHLAND — A group of volunteers are hoping to find enough musicians to bring a community band back to the borough for the holidays.

“Depending on how many people we get, hopefully we can run something before the year is out. Maybe we could hold something for the Santa Parade the Saturday after Thanksgiving. A dozen wouldn’t hurt,” Frank R. Rice, one of the Ashland residents spearheading the effort, said at a meeting Sunday night at American Legion Bernard J. Dolan Post 434, 501 Centre St.

“Maybe 15?” Amber Martin, Shamokin, one of the musicians interested in playing, asked.

“Fifteen?” Rice said.

“I think 15,” Martin, a junior at Marywood University, Scranton, who is a member of Marywood’s Wind Ensemble, said.

“Fifteen would be a good number. And we’re trying to find people to participate who are not just from Ashland but the surrounding area. But they’re going to have to bring their own instruments,” Rice, who is the post’s first vice commander, said.

The proposed Ashland Area Community Band is being spearheaded by Rice and Ashland residents Charles “Willie” Hughes and John “Jack” Jones, who is the president of the Ashland Area Historic Preservation Society. Another volunteer organizer is Greg Fisher, Ashland.

So far, the band has three musicians, all flutists, Martin, Tina Liem, Frackville, and Fisher’s daughter, Quinn, 13.

While the volunteers don’t have a collection of instruments for musicians to use, they do have uniforms. Jones bought about 50 uniforms from Bloomsburg University in 2010 at a cost of $600 and they are being stored at the legion post.

For more information on the future Ashland Community Band, interested persons can call Rice at 570-590-1666 or email to frrice@verizon.net.

Rice said there hasn’t been a community band in the borough since the mid 20th century. The last ones were the American Legion Drum and Bugle Corps and later the VFW Drum and Bugle Corps, which used the Legion’s musical instruments when its band became inactive.

In the late 1940s, the Legion band folded, then the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7654 asked for use of the instruments to form its own band. It performed for only a few years, according to Rice.

David J. Rossi

TREMONT — A Dauphin County woman failed to appear Thursday for her preliminary hearing.

Debra L. Henninger, 49, of 129 Elm St., Lykens, faces a charge of theft. After the hearing, Magisterial District Judge David J. Rossi ordered the charge held for court and asked that a bench warrant be issued for Henninger.

State police at Schuylkill Haven allege that Henninger committed the theft on April 1 in Porter Township.

Henninger had been free on $5,000 unsecured bail.

Other defendants whose cases Rossi considered on Thursday, the charges against each one and the judge’s dispositions of the matters included:

Nicholas M. Brown, 33, of 125 S. Third St., Minersville — disarming a law enforcement officer, flight to avoid apprehension, resisting arrest and obstructing law enforcement; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges of disarming law enforcement officer and flight to avoid apprehension withdrawn, other charges bound over for court.

Stephen C. Curran, 49, of 612 School St., Minersville — driving under the influence, disregarding traffic lane and careless driving; charges held for court after preliminary hearing.

Vincent C. Demarco, 22, of 140 High Road, Pottsville — fleeing or eluding police, driving over divider, improper left turn, failure to drive at a safe speed, careless driving, reckless driving and improper driving without headlights; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges of improper left turn, failure to drive at a safe speed, careless driving and reckless driving withdrawn, other charges bound over for court.

Stephen R. Ennis, 24, of 622 McKnight St., Gordon — DUI, failure to keep right, disregarding traffic lane and speeding; right to preliminary hearing waived, charge of speeding withdrawn, other charges bound over for court.

Stephen C. Farwell, 60, of 5315 Country Route 17, Friendship, New York — possession of a small amount of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, DUI, careless driving and operating with unsafe equipment; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

Edward K. Moore, 72, of 9478 Leeds Circle, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina — indecent exposure, open lewdness and disorderly conduct; prosecutors withdrew charges of indecent exposure and open lewdness, Moore pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct. Rossi sentenced Moore to pay costs and a $300 fine.

David P. Riegel, 21, of 213 E. High St., Coaldale — theft and receiving stolen property; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

ASHLAND — A memorial to the first pastor of the former St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church was dedicated and blessed at the parish cemetery on Sunday afternoon.

The Rev. John W. Bambrick, pastor of St. Charles Borromeo Roman Catholic Church, Ashland, visited St. Joseph Cemetery and the site of the new resting place of the Rev. Michael Sheridan to hold a short prayer service and bless the site with holy water.

Bambrick also blessed three other locations. The first included the statues of Our Lady of Fatima and the three children — Lucia Santos and her cousins, Jacinta and Francisco Marto — that had been relocated from the former Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, Gordon. The second was a statue of St. Mauritius removed from the front of the closed church, and the third was a blessing of the Memorial to the Unborn in St. Joseph Cemetery.

Sheridan’s remains were moved recently from the courtyard next to the church. Sheridan was buried in 1880 next to the church he pastored for 23 years. He had rested in the courtyard for 135 years, but water problems at the site prompted the parish to consider the disinterment when repairs became necessary for safety’s sake.

The large Celtic cross that marked Sheridan’s grave was removed with a crane and taken to St. Joseph Cemetery, where a burial site was prepared.

According to a history of St. Joseph and St. Mauritius churches in Ashland and St. Elizabeth Chapel in Lavelle provided by parish business manager Patrick Reilly, Sheridan was well known as a great missionary priest, traveling from Pottsville to Sunbury in the mid-1800s.

Bambrick came to the cemetery after the 11 a.m. Mass and was accompanied by members of the Knights of Columbus Sarto Council 1322 of Ashland. His first stop was the Sheridan monument. The inscription at the base of the cross reads:

“Behold a great priest who in his days pleased God and was found just.

“Rev. Michael A. Sheriden

“Son of Mary Reilly and Thomas Sheriden

“Baptized April 8, 1821

“Ordained June 1, 1844

“Died Sept. 25, 1880

“Requiescat in Pace.”

Though the common spelling of his last name in many sources is “Sheridan,” the monument spelling is “Sheriden.”

Bambrick approached the monument and began with the prayer, that Sheridan at death was “sealed with the name of Christ and lies at rest awaiting the dawn of the Lord’s coming in glory, and preparing this resting place for Father. We should raise our hearts from earth to heaven through Christ, who suffered and rose again for our salvation.”

Bambrick sprinkled holy water on the memorial and then moved to the Our Lady of Fatima grotto with about two dozen people.

“Mary, you have provided us with the perfect example of following Christ,” Bambrick prayed. “May we strive to reflect in our lives the mysteries that we devoutly recall. Thou are beautiful, Our Lady of Fatima.”

After praying the Hail Mary and the blessing with holy water, everyone moved to St. Mauritius Cemetery for the next blessing. Again, everyone gathered around the statue of St. Mauritius, placed on a concrete base at the head of the grave of the Rev. Aloysius Misteli, who served at pastor from 1898 until his death in 1927.

“As we begin to celebrate this rite in praise of God on the unveiling this beautiful image of St. Mauritius for public veneration, we must properly be disposed and have a clear appreciation of the meaning of this celebration,” Bambrick said. “When the Church blesses a picture or statue for public veneration by the faithful, it does so for the following reasons. When we look at the representation of those who have followed Christ faithfully, we will be motivated to seek that city that is to come, that we will learn the way that will enable most surely to obtain complete union with Christ.”

Bambrick asked everyone to pray the Lord’s Prayer as he blessed the statue.

The last stop was the Memorial to the Unborn in St. Joseph Cemetery. While the other statues/memorials were new additions, the Memorial to the Unborn was placed and dedicated on June 2, 2002. It was sponsored by the Ashland Knights of Columbus.

Before the blessing, Bambrick spoke briefly on abortion and how Pope Francis gave the ability of priests to forgive the sin of abortion rather than having to go to the bishop. Bambrick said that that ability has been available to priests in the Diocese of Allentown since the time of Roe v. Wade, when Bishop Joseph McShea, the first bishop of Allentown, gave that faculty to diocesan priests.